Directed wireless communication

ABSTRACT

In an implementation of directed wireless communication, a multi-beam directed signal system coordinates directed wireless communication with client devices. A transmit beam-forming network routes data communication transmissions to the client devices via directed communication beams that are emanated from an antenna assembly, and a receive beam-forming network receives data communication receptions from the client devices via the directed communication beams.

RELATED APPLICATION

[0001] This application claims the benefit of a related U.S. ProvisionalApplication Serial No. 60/423,660, filed Nov. 4, 2002, entitled “AWireless Data Packet Communications System”, to Marcus da Silva et al.,which is incorporated by reference herein.

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0002] This invention relates to directed wireless communication.

BACKGROUND

[0003] Computing devices and other similar devices implemented to sendand/or receive data can be interconnected in a wired network or awireless network to allow the data to be communicated between thedevices. Wired networks, such as wide area networks (WANs) and localarea networks (LANs) for example, tend to have a high bandwidth and cantherefore be configured to communicate digital data at high data rates.One obvious drawback to wired networks is that the range of movement ofa device is constrained since the device needs to be physicallyconnected to the network for data exchange. For example, a user of aportable computing device will need to remain near to a wired networkjunction to maintain a connection to the wired network.

[0004] An alternative to wired networks is a wireless network that isconfigured to support similar data communications but in a moreaccommodating manner. For example, the user of the portable computingdevice can move around within a region that is supported by the wirelessnetwork without having to be physically connected to the network. Alimitation of conventional wireless networks, however, is theirrelatively low bandwidth which results in a much slower exchange of datathan a wired network. Further, conventional wireless networks areimplemented with multiple base stations, or access points, that relaycommunications between wireless-configured devices. These conventionalaccess points have a limited communication range, typically 20 to 200feet, and a wireless network requires a large number of these accesspoints to cover and provide a communication link over a large area.

[0005] Many conventional wireless communication systems and networksimplement omni-directional antennas to transmit data packets to a clientdevice and receive data packets from or via an access point. With astandard wireless LAN, for example, a transmission is communicatedequally in all directions from an omni-directional antenna, or point ofemanation. Receiving devices located within range and positioned at anyangle with respect to the emanating point can receive the wirelesstransmission.

[0006] However, standard omni-directional wireless LANs oromni-directional wireless wide area networks (WANs) have drawbacks andlimitations. For example, transmission range is limited andelectromagnetic interference associated with transmissions is unmanagedand can interfere with or otherwise restrict the use of othercommunicating devices that operate in the same frequency band within thetransmission coverage area. Furthermore, inefficiencies and datacorruption can occur if two or more centralized points of emanation arepositioned proximate to have overlapping coverage areas.

SUMMARY

[0007] Directed wireless communication is described herein.

[0008] In an implementation, a multi-beam directed signal systemcoordinates directed wireless communication with client devices. Atransmit beam-forming network routes data communication transmissions tothe client devices via directed communication beams that are emanatedfrom an antenna assembly, and a receive beam-forming network receivesdata communication receptions from the client devices via the directedcommunication beams.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0009] The same numbers are used throughout the drawings to referencelike features and components.

[0010]FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary wireless communicationsenvironment.

[0011]FIG. 2 illustrates an exemplary directed wireless communicationsystem.

[0012]FIG. 3 illustrates an exemplary communication beam array which canbe generated with the exemplary directed wireless communication systemshown in FIG. 2.

[0013]FIG. 4 illustrates an exemplary antenna array for an antennaassembly as shown in FIG. 3.

[0014]FIG. 5 illustrates an exemplary implementation of the directedwireless communication system shown in FIG. 2.

[0015]FIG. 6 illustrates an exemplary set of communication beams thatemanate from an antenna array of an antenna assembly as shown in FIG. 3.

[0016]FIG. 7 illustrates an exemplary multi-beam directed signal systemthat establishes multiple access points.

[0017]FIGS. 8A and 8B illustrate various components of a multi-beamdirected signal system and an antenna assembly of the directed wirelesscommunication system shown in FIG. 2.

[0018]FIG. 9 illustrates an exemplary multi-beam directed signal systemthat includes various components such as medium access controllers(MACs), baseband units, and MAC coordinator logic.

[0019]FIG. 10 further illustrates various components of the exemplarymulti-beam directed signal system shown in FIG. 9.

[0020]FIG. 11 illustrates a state transition diagram for a medium accesscontroller (MAC).

[0021]FIG. 12 illustrates a multi-beam directed signal system receivingand weighting various communication signals.

[0022]FIG. 13 illustrates an exemplary multi-beam directed signal systemthat includes various component implementations.

[0023]FIG. 14 further illustrates a component implementation of themulti-beam directed signal system for complementary beam-forming.

[0024]FIG. 15 illustrates a graph depicting a signal level output (dB)for the component implementation shown in FIG. 14.

[0025]FIG. 16 illustrates a state transition diagram for a roamingclient device in wireless communication with a multi-beam directedsignal system as shown in FIG. 2.

[0026]FIG. 17 is a flow diagram of an exemplary method for a directedwireless communication system implemented with a multi-beam directedsignal system and antenna assembly.

[0027]FIG. 18 is a flow diagram of an exemplary method for a directedwireless communication system implemented with a multi-beam directedsignal system and antenna assembly.

[0028]FIG. 19 is a flow diagram of an exemplary method for client deviceroaming in a directed wireless communication system.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0029] Directed wireless communication is described in which amulti-beam directed signal system is implemented to communicate over awireless communication link via an antenna assembly with client devicesimplemented for wireless communication within the wireless system. Thedirected wireless communication system can be implemented to communicatewith multiple devices, such as portable computers, computing devices,and any other type of electronic and/or communication device that can beconfigured for wireless communication. Further, the multiple electronicand/or computing devices can be configured to communicate with oneanother within the wireless communication system. Additionally, adirected wireless communication system can be implemented as a wirelesslocal area network (WLAN), a wireless wide area network (WAN), awireless metropolitan area network (MAN), or as any number of othersimilar wireless network configurations.

[0030] The following description identifies various systems and methodsthat may be included in such directed wireless communication systems andnetworks. It should be noted, however, that these are merely exemplaryand that not all of the techniques described herein need be implementedin a given wireless system or network. Furthermore, many of theexemplary systems and methods described herein are also applicableand/or adaptable for use in other communication systems and networks.

[0031] Directed wireless communication provides improved performanceover conventional wireless network arrangements by utilizing multi-beamreceiving and/or transmitting adaptive antennas, when practical. In animplementation, simultaneous transmission and reception may occur at awireless routing device by applying multi-channel techniques. In adescribed implementation, a multi-beam directed signal system (e.g.,also referred to as an access point or Wi-Fi switch) is a long-rangepacket switch designed to support 802.11b clients in accordance with an802.11 standard. An increase in communication range is achieved bybeam-forming directed communication beams which simultaneously transmitdirected signals and receive communication signals from differentdirections via receive and transmit beam-forming networks.

[0032] The multi-beam directed signal system establishes multiplepoint-to-point links (e.g., directed communication beams) by which datapackets can be communicated. The point-to-point links have acommunication range that covers a much larger area than conventionalaccess points, eliminating the need for multiple communication accesspoints and significantly reducing the complexity and cost of a wirelessLAN (WLAN) network. Further, a client device can use a conventionalwireless card to communicate with the multi-beam directed signal systemover long distances with no modification of the client device.Accordingly, directed wireless communication as described hereinrepresents a significant improvement over conventional wireless networksthat use switched beam and/or omni-directional antennas.

[0033]FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary wireless communicationsenvironment 100 that is generally representative of any number ofdifferent types of wireless communications environments, including butnot limited to those pertaining to wireless local area networks (LANs)or wide area networks (WANs) (e.g., Wi-Fi compatible) technology,cellular technology, trunking technology, and the like. In wirelesscommunications environment 100, an access station 102 communicates withremote client devices 104(1), 104(2), . . . , 104(N) via wirelesscommunication or communication links 106(1), 106(2), . . . , 106(N),respectively. Although not required, access station 102 is typicallyfixed, and remote client devices 104 may be fixed or mobile. Althoughonly three remote client devices 104 are shown, access station 102 canwirelessly communicate with any number of different client devices 104.

[0034] A directed wireless communication system, Wi-Fi communicationsystem, access station 102, and/or remote client devices 104 may operatein accordance with any IEEE 802.11 or similar standard. With respect toa cellular system, for example, access station 102 and/or remote clientdevices 104 may operate in accordance with any analog or digitalstandard, including but not limited to those using time division/demandmultiple access (TDMA), code division multiple access (CDMA), spreadspectrum, some combination thereof, or any other such technology.

[0035] Access station 102 can be implemented as a nexus point, atrunking radio, a base station, a Wi-Fi switch, an access point, somecombination and/or derivative thereof, and so forth. Remote clientdevices 104 may be, for example, a hand-held device, a desktop or laptopcomputer, an expansion card or similar that is coupled to a desktop orlaptop computer, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a mobile phone, avehicle having a wireless communication device, a tablet orhand/palm-sized computer, a portable inventory-related scanning device,any device capable of processing generally, some combination thereof,and the like. Further, a client device 104 may be any device implementedto receive and/or transmit information (e.g., in the form of datapackets) via the applicable wireless communication links 106. Remoteclient devices 104 may also operate in accordance with any standardizedand/or specialized technology that is compatible with the operation ofaccess station 102.

[0036]FIG. 2 illustrates an exemplary directed wireless communicationsystem 200 that can be implemented in any form of a wirelesscommunications environment 100 as described with reference to FIG. 1.The directed wireless communication system 200 includes an accessstation 102 and remote client devices 202 and 204. The access station102 includes a multi-beam directed signal system 206 coupled to anantenna assembly 208 via a communication link 210. In this exampleimplementation, access station 102 is coupled to an Ethernet backbone212.

[0037] The antenna assembly 208 can be implemented as two or moreantennas, and optionally as a phased array of antenna elements, toemanate multiple directed communication beams 214(1), 214(2), . . . ,214(N). The antenna assembly 208 is an unobtrusive indoor or outdoorWi-Fi antenna panel that can include various operability components suchas RF devices and components, a central processing unit, a power supply,and other logic components. The antenna assembly can be implemented as alightweight and thin structure that can be mounted on a wall or in acorner of a room to provide wireless communication over a broad coveragearea, such as throughout a building and surrounding area, or over anexpanded region, such as a college campus or an entire corporate ormanufacturing complex. While the antenna assembly may be applicable oradaptable for use in many other communication systems, the antennaassembly is described in the context of an exemplary wirelesscommunications environment 100 (FIG. 1).

[0038] The multi-beam directed signal system 206 can transmit and/orreceive (i.e., transceive) information (e.g., in the form of datapackets) by way of one or more directed communication beams 214 as awireless communication via the antenna assembly 208. Additionally,wireless communication(s) are transmitted and/or received from (i.e.,transceived with respect to) a remote client device, such as clientdevices 202 and 204. The wireless communications may be transceiveddirectionally with respect to one or more particular communication beams214. The multi-beam directed signal system 206 can be implemented formulti-channel directed wireless communication. For example, clientdevice 202 can communicate via directed communication beam 214(1) with afirst channel of the multi-beam directed signal system 206, and clientdevice 204 can communicate via directed communication beam 214(N) with asecond channel of the multi-beam directed signal system 206.

[0039] In the exemplary directed wireless communication system 200,signals may be sent from a transmitter to a receiver usingelectromagnetic waves that emanate from one or more antenna elements ofthe antenna assembly 208 which are focused in one or more desireddirections. For example, the multi-beam directed signal system generatesa directed wireless communication for transmission to wireless clientdevice 202 via directed communication beam 214(1). This is in contrastto conventional omni-directional transmission systems that transmit acommunication in all directions from an omni-directional antenna (e.g.,example omni-directional transmission area 216 emanating from a centraltransmission point with reference to antenna assembly 208 and shown onlyfor comparison). Although not to scale, the illustration depicts thatthe power to transmit over the omni-directional transmission area 216can be directed as one or more communication beams over a fartherdistance 218 from a point of transmission (e.g., antenna assembly 208).

[0040] When the electromagnetic waves are focused in a desireddirection, the pattern formed by the electromagnetic wave is termed a“beam” or “beam pattern”, such as a directed communication beam 214. Theproduction and/or application of such electromagnetic beams 214 istypically referred to as “beam-forming.” Beam-forming provides a numberof benefits such as greater range and/or coverage per unit oftransmitted power, improved resistance to interference, increasedimmunity to the deleterious effects of multi-path transmission signals,and so forth. For example, a single communication beam 214(1) can bedirected for communication with a specific wireless-configured clientdevice 202 and can be transmitted over a much greater distance 218 thanwould be covered by a conventional omni-directional antenna (e.g.,example omni-directional transmission area 216 shown only forcomparison).

[0041]FIG. 3 illustrates an exemplary communication beam array 300 ofdirected communication beams 214(1), 214(2), . . . , 214(N) that emanatefrom an antenna array 302 which is part of the antenna assembly 208.Antenna assembly 208 is also referred to herein as an “adaptive antenna”which describes an arrangement that includes the antenna array 302having a plurality of antenna elements, and operatively supportingmechanisms and/or components (e.g., circuits, logic, etc.) that are partof a wireless routing device and configured to produce a transmissionpattern that selectively places transmission nulls and/or peaks incertain directions within an applicable coverage area.

[0042] A transmission peak of a directed communication beam 214 occursin the transmission pattern 300 when a generated and particular amountof energy is directed in a particular direction. Transmission peaks are,therefore, associated with the signal path and/or communication beam toa desired receiving node, such as another wireless routing device or awireless client device. In some cases, sidelobes to a communication beammay also be considered to represent transmission peak(s).

[0043] Conversely, a transmission null (e.g., not a communication beam)occurs in the transmission pattern when no transmission of energy occursin a particular direction, or a relatively insignificant amount ofenergy is transmitted in a particular direction. Thus, a transmissionnull is associated with a signal path or lack of a communication beamtowards an undesired, possibly interfering, device and/or object.Transmission nulls may also be associated with the intent to maximizepower in another direction (i.e., associated with a transmission peak),to increase data integrity or data security, and/or to save power, forexample. A determination to direct a transmission null and/or atransmission peak (e.g., a communication beam 214) in a particulardirection can be made based on collected or otherwise provided routinginformation which may include a variety of data associated with theoperation of the multi-beam directed signal system 206, wireless routingdevice, and other devices at other locations or nodes within thewireless network.

[0044] One or more of the communication beams 214(1), 214(2), . . . ,214(N) are directed out symmetrically from antenna array 302 tocommunicate information (e.g., in the form of data packets) with one ormore wireless client devices. The communication beam array 300 shown inFIG. 3 is merely exemplary and other communication beam arrays, orpatterns, may differ in width, shape, number, angular coverage, azimuth,and so forth. Further, although all of the directed communication beams214 are shown emanating from antenna array 302 at what would appear as asame time, transmission and reception via one or more communicationbeams 214 is controlled and coordinated with signal control andcoordination logic 304 of the multi-beam directed signal system 206.

[0045] The signal control and coordination logic 304 can monitor each ofthe directed communication beams 214 as an individual access point.Further, the signal control and coordination logic 304 can control adirected wireless transmission to a first client device and a directedwireless transmission from a second client device such that the directedwireless transmission does not interfere with the directed wirelessreception. Optionally, a directed wireless transmission and a directedwireless reception can be simultaneous.

[0046] As used herein, the term “logic” (e.g., signal control andcoordination logic 304) refers to hardware, firmware, software, or anycombination thereof that may be implemented to perform the logicaloperations associated with a given task. Such, logic can also includeany supporting circuitry that may be required to complete a given taskincluding supportive non-logical operations. For example, “logic” mayalso include analog circuitry, memory, input/output (I/O) circuitry,interface circuitry, power providing/regulating circuitry, etc.

[0047] The directed communication beams 214 of antenna array 302 can bedirectionally controllable, such as steerable in an analogimplementation or stepable in a digital implementation. For example, adirected communication beam 214 can be directionally stepable by thewidth (e.g., degrees) of the communication beam to “steer” or “aim”addressable data packets when communicating with a client device.Further, a communication beam 214 can be directionally controllable suchthat only an intended client device will receive a directed wirelesscommunication via the communication beam 214, and such that anunintended recipient will not be able to receive the directed wirelesscommunication.

[0048] Although data signals (e.g., information as data packets) can bedirected to and from a particular client device (e.g., client devices202 and 204) via one or more directed communication beams 214,interference between communications beams 214 can occur. For example, adownlink signal transmission from antenna assembly 208 via communicationbeam 214(2) can corrupt an uplink signal reception at antenna assembly208 via communication beam 214(3). The signal control and coordinationlogic 304 coordinates uplink and downlink signal transmissions across(e.g., between and/or among) the different communication beams 214 so asto avoid, or at least reduce, the frequency at which downlink directedsignals are transmitted via a first communication beam (e.g.,communication beam 214(2)) while uplink directed signals are beingreceived via a second communication beam (e.g., communication beam214(3)).

[0049]FIG. 4 illustrates an exemplary antenna array 302 (also referredto herein as an adaptive antenna) that is formed with an array ofantenna elements 400. Each antenna element 400 has multiplecommunication signal transfer slots 402 (e.g., transfer slots 402(1) and402(2)) that are formed into a front surface 404 of an antenna element400. The antenna array 302 transmits and receives data aselectromagnetic communication signals via the transfer slots 402 in eachantenna element 400.

[0050] In an exemplary implementation, the communication signal transferslots 402 in an antenna element 400 are formed into two parallel slotrows 406(1) and 406(2) in which the transfer slots 402(1) in slot row406(1) are staggered, or otherwise offset, in relation to the transferslots 402(2) in slot row 406(2). Each transfer slot 402(1) in slot row406(1) is offset from each transfer slot 402(2) in slot row 406(2) in adirection 408 and a distance 410. For example, transfer slot 402(1) inslot row 406(1) is offset from transfer slot 402(2) in slot row 408(2)in a direction that is parallel to the slot rows 406 (e.g., thedirection 408) over a distance that is approximately the length of onerectangular transfer slot 402 (e.g., the distance 410). The distance 410between transfer slots 402 in a slot row 406 is approximately theantenna element wavelength λ_(g)/2 apart.

[0051] The gain of an adaptive antenna (e.g., antenna array 302) isdependent on the implementation of the multi-beam directed signal system206. However, for a uniformly illuminated antenna array, the antennagain is related to its effective aperture by an equation:$G_{R} = \frac{4{\pi \quad \cdot A_{eff}}}{\lambda^{2}}$

[0052] Assuming A_(eff) is equal to a cross-sectional area of theantenna array: $G_{R} = \frac{4{\pi \cdot w \cdot h}}{\lambda^{2}}$

[0053] where w is the width of the antenna, h is the height of theantenna, and λ is the wavelength. For an example indoor implementationof an antenna array where w=8λ and h=4λ, the antenna gain is determinedby the equation:$G_{R} = {\frac{4{\pi \cdot 8}{\lambda \cdot 4}\lambda}{\lambda^{2}} = {{128\pi} = {26\quad {dB}\quad i}}}$

[0054] For an example outdoor implementation of an antenna array wherew=8λ and h=8λ, the antenna gain is determined by the equation:$G_{R} = {\frac{4{\pi \cdot 8}{\lambda \cdot 8}\lambda}{\lambda^{2}} = {{256\pi} = {29.1\quad {dB}\quad i}}}$

[0055] When dissipation losses are zero, the antenna gain is equivalentto directivity. The effective aperture may include the effect of losses,and therefore the formulas may be used to calculate the gain. When theactual dimensions of the antenna array 302 are used as the “effectivearea”, the losses are assumed to be zero (e.g., for an idealimplementation).

[0056] In this example illustration, the antenna array 302 is shownconfigured for indoor use with sixteen antenna elements (e.g., sixteenof antenna elements 400 formed or otherwise positioned together) eachhaving two parallel rows of four communication signal transfer slotseach (e.g., slot rows 406(1) and 406(2)). The antenna array 302 can beconfigured for outdoor use with thirty-two antenna elements (e.g.,multiple antenna elements 400) each having two parallel rows of eightcommunication signal transfer slots each, or can be configured as alarger antenna array or antenna panel with more antenna elements havingmore communication signal transfer slots per slot row. The antenna array302 can be configured with as many antenna elements 400 having anynumber of transfer slots 402 per slot row 406 as needed to providecommunication signal transfer (e.g., wireless communication) over aregion or desired coverage area.

[0057]FIG. 5 illustrates an exemplary implementation 500 of a directedwireless communication system (e.g., directed wireless communicationsystem 200 shown in FIG. 2) that includes antenna assembly 208 andantenna array 302 as shown in FIG. 4. In this example, antenna array 302is positioned outside of a building 502 and mounted on an adjacentbuilding 504 to provide wireless communication throughout building 502and throughout a region 506 outside of building 502. The antenna array302 is coupled to the multi-beam directed signal system 206 (FIG. 2)which can be communicatively coupled via a LAN connection, for example,to a server computing device positioned in building 504. The servercomputing device can be implemented to administrate and control theassociated functions and operations of the directed wirelesscommunication system 200. Alternatively, antenna array 302 can bemounted within building 502 to provide wireless communication throughoutbuilding 502 and throughout the region 506 outside of building 502. Forexample, antenna array 302 can be mounted in a corner between twointerior perpendicular walls to provide wireless communication coveragethroughout the coverage area (e.g., building 502 and region 506 outsideof the building).

[0058] The directed wireless communication system 200 (e.g., shown inimplementation 500) provides wireless communication of information(e.g., in the form of data packets) via directed communication beams508(1), 508(2), . . . , 508(N) to any number of electronic and/orcomputing client devices that are configured to recognize and receivetransmission signals from the antenna array 302. Any one or more of theelectronic and computing client devices may also transmit informationvia the directed communication beams 508. Such electronic and computingdevices can include printing devices, desktop and portable computingdevices such as a personal digital assistant (PDA), cellular phone, andsimilar mobile communication devices, and any other type of electronicdevices configured for wireless communication connectivity throughoutbuilding 502, as well as portable devices outside of building 502, suchas computing device 510 within region 506. One or more of the electronicand computing client devices may also be connected together via a wirednetwork and/or communication link.

[0059]FIG. 6 illustrates an exemplary set or array of communicationbeams 600 that emanate from an antenna array 302 as shown in FIGS. 3 and4. In a described implementation, antenna array 302 can include sixteenantenna elements 400(0, 1, . . . , 14, and 15) (not explicitly shown inFIGS. 4 and 6). From the sixteen antenna elements 400(0-15), sixteendifferent communication beams 602(0), 602(1), . . . , 602(15) are formedas the wireless communication signals emanating from antenna elements400(0-15) which may add and/or subtract from each other duringelectromagnetic propagation.

[0060] Communication beams 602(1), . . . , 602(15) spread out, or aredirected out, symmetrically from a central communication beam 602(0).The narrowest beam is the central beam 602(0), and the beams becomewider as they spread outward from the central beam. For example, beam602(15) adjacent beam 602(0) is slightly wider than beam 602(0), andbeam 602(5) is wider than beam 602(15). Also, beam 602(10) is widerstill than beam 602(5). The communication beam pattern of the set ofcommunication beams 600 illustrated in FIG. 6 are exemplary only andother communication beam pattern sets may differ in width, shape,number, angular coverage, azimuth, and so forth.

[0061] Due to implementation effects of the interactions between andamong the wireless signals as they emanate from antenna array 302 (e.g.,assuming a linear antenna array in a described implementation),communication beam 602(8) is degenerate such that its beam pattern isformed on both sides of antenna array 302. These implementation effectsalso account for the increasing widths of the other beams 602(1-7) and602(15-9) as they spread outward from the central communication beam602(0). In addition to the implementation effects of the interactionsbetween and among the wireless signals, an obliquity effect explainsthat an azimuth beamwidth is related to the projected horizontaldimension of the array, as viewed from an oblique angle. Accordingly,the array appears narrower when viewed from an oblique angle, andtherefore has a wider beamwidth as compared to a beamwidth viewed from aperpendicular angle. Beamwidth and directivity are inverselyproportional and an obliquity factor (i.e., cos(azimuth angle)) definesa reduction in antenna array directivity at oblique angles and thus anincrease in beamwidth. In a further implementation, communication beams602(7) and 602(9) may be too wide for efficient and productive use.Hence, communication beams 602(7), 602(8), and 602(9) are not used andthe implementation utilizes the remaining thirteen communication beams602 (e.g., communication beams 602(0-6) and beams 602(10-15)).

[0062]FIG. 7 illustrates an exemplary implementation 700 of themulti-beam directed signal system 206 which establishes multiple accesspoints 702(1), 702(2), . . . , 702(N). The multi-beam directed signalsystem 206 establishes any number access points 702 which can eachcorrespond to, for example, an individual access point in accordancewith an IEEE 802.11-based standard. Additionally, a wireless coveragearea or region for each respective access point 702 may correspond to,for example, a respective directed communication beam 214 as shown inFIGS. 2 and 3, or a respective communication beam 602 as shown in FIG.6.

[0063] Although communication signals directed into (or obtained from)different access points 702 may be directed at particular or specificcoverage areas, interference between access points 702 can occur. Forexample, a downlink signal transmission for access point 702(2) candestroy an uplink signal reception for access point 702(1). Generally,signal control and coordination logic 304 coordinates uplink signalreceptions and downlink signal transmissions across (e.g., betweenand/or among) different access points 702 so as to avoid, or at leastreduce, the frequency at which downlink signals are transmitted at afirst access point while uplink signals are being received at a secondaccess point.

[0064] Specifically, signal control and coordination logic 304 isadapted to monitor the multiple access points 702(1), 702(2), . . . ,702(N) to ascertain when a signal, or communication of information, isbeing received. When an access point 702 is ascertained to be receivinga signal, the signal control and coordination logic 304 limits (e.g.,prevents, delays, etc.) the transmission of signals on the other accesspoints 702 such that signal transmission does not interfere with signalreception. The monitoring, ascertaining, and restraining of signals canbe based on and/or responsive to many factors. For example, the signalscan be coordinated (e.g., analyzed and controlled) based on aper-channel basis.

[0065]FIGS. 8A and 8B illustrate various components of the multi-beamdirected signal system 206 and the antenna assembly 208 both shown inFIGS. 2 and 3. FIG. 8A illustrates antenna array 302 which includes thesixteen antenna elements 400(0, 1, . . . , 15) as described withreference to FIG. 6. The antenna assembly 208 includes RF (radiofrequency) components which are shown as a left transmit antenna board800, a right transmit antenna board 802, a left receive antenna board804, and a right receive antenna board 806. The multi-beam directedsignal system 206 includes a transmit beam-forming network 808 and areceive beam-forming network 810.

[0066] The left transmit antenna board 800 includes transmission logic812(0, 1, . . . , 7) and the right transmit antenna board 802 includestransmission logic 812(8, 9, . . . , 15). Each transmission logic 812(e.g., circuit, component, etc.) corresponds to an antenna element400(0-15) of the antenna array 302 and corresponds to a signalconnection (e.g., node, port, channel, etc.) of the transmitbeam-forming network 808(0-15). Similarly, the left receive antennaboard 804 includes reception logic 814(0, 1, . . . , 7) and the rightreceive antenna board 806 includes reception logic 814(8, 9, . . . ,15). Each reception logic 814 (e.g., circuit, component, etc.)corresponds to an antenna element 400(0-15) of the antenna array 302 andcorresponds to a signal connection (e.g., node, port, channel, etc.) ofthe receive beam-forming network 810(0-15).

[0067] Generally, a beam-forming network 808 and 810 may includemultiple ports for connecting to antenna array 302 and multiple portsfor connecting to the multiple RF components, such as the transmit andreceive antenna boards 800-806. One or more active components (e.g., apower amplifier (PA), a low-noise amplifier (LNA), etc.) may also becoupled to the multiple ports on the antenna array side of abeam-forming network. Thus, antenna array 302 may be directly orindirectly coupled to a beam-forming network 808 and 810.

[0068] Specifically, a beam-forming network 808 and 810 may include atleast “N” ports for each of the multiple RF transmission and receivelogic components 812 and 814, respectively. For example, each directedcommunication beam 214 (FIG. 2) or 602 (FIG. 6) emanating from antennaarray 302 corresponds to an RF logic component 812 and/or 814. Each RFlogic component 812 and 814 can be implemented as, for example, atransmit and/or receive signal processor operating at one or more radiofrequencies, with each frequency corresponding to a different channel.It should be noted that channels may be defined alternatively (and/oradditionally) using a mechanism other than frequency, such as a code, atime slot, some combination thereof, and so forth.

[0069]FIG. 8B further illustrates various components of the multi-beamdirected signal system 206 which includes the signal control andcoordination logic 304, a multi-beam controller 816, one or more memorycomponents 818, communication interface(s) 820, a scanning receiver 822,and receiver/transmitters (Rx/Tx) 824(0, 1, . . . , 15). The multi-beamcontroller 816 (e.g., any of a processor, controller, logic, circuitry,etc.) can be implemented to control channel assignments forcommunication signals and data communication coordinated by the signalcontrol and coordination logic 304.

[0070] The channel assignments coordinated by the signal control andcoordination logic 304 provides the best channel assignment for a signalbased on given measurement information. Parameters of a channelassignment algorithm include:

[0071] ChannelAssignmentCycle which identifies a duration betweenchanges in the channel assignment;

[0072] HeavyInterference which identifies an interference activitythreshold. If, for example, interference activity is determined to beabove this value, a particular channel may be considered deficient forthe duration of time that the interference can be detected;

[0073] BadChannelThreshold which identifies a number of measurementperiods (e.g., a MeasurementDuration) that a channel has interferenceactivity above the HeavyInterference threshold; and

[0074] JamInterference which identifies an interference activitythreshold above the HeavyInterference parameter.

[0075] Further, channel assignment internal parameters can include:

[0076] MeasurementCycle which identifies a time duration (e.g.,twenty-four hours) in which a measurement is completed;

[0077] MeasurementDuration which identifies a time duration (e.g.,thirty minutes) between two measurement points;

[0078] PeakLoadLimit which identifies a maximum load allowed on onechannel; and

[0079] ChannelSixBiasFactor which is a bias factor to compensate fortransmission on channel six to reduce inter-modulation.

[0080] The scanning receiver 822 and the receiver/transmitters (Rx/Tx)824 measure metrics of channel activity every specifiedMeasurementDuration during a cycle of MeasurementCycle. The metrics caninclude a number of associated client devices, throughput and packeterror rates (PER) of each receiver/transmitter 824, interference andchannel utilization of each communication beam (e.g., frequency, orchannel), and/or any number of other metrics. The channel activitymetrics include:

[0081] N_(i)(t) which is a number of associated clients of the ith Rx/Tx824 and which is averaged over the MeasurementDuration period;

[0082] S_(i)(t) which is the throughput of the ith Rx/Tx 824 measured inpackets/second or bytes/second, and which is averaged over theMeasurementDuration period;

[0083] P_(i)(t) which is a packet error rate (PER) of the ith Rx/Tx 824and which is averaged over the MeasurementDuration period;

[0084] D_(i)(t) which is a delay of the ith Rx/Tx 824 and which isaveraged over the MeasurementDuration period;

[0085] ρ_(ij)(t) which is channel utilization of the ith beam on the jthchannel and which is measured by both the Rx/Tx 824 and scanningreceiver 822 and averaged over the MeasurementDuration period. This isalso refered to as a Channel Utilization Factor (CUF);

[0086] Ns_(j)(t) which is a number of downlink data packets transmittedon the jth channel and which is averaged over the MeasurementDurationperiod;

[0087] Nr_(ij)(t) which is a number of correctly received uplink datapackets transmitted by client devices associated with the ith beam onthe jth channel, and which is averaged over the MeasurementDurationperiod;

[0088] Nn_(ij)(t) which is a number of uplink data packets transmittedby client devices associated with other communication beams, and whichare correctly received by the ith beam on the jth channel. This ismeasured by the scanning receiver 822 and is averaged over theMeasurementDuration period. This is also referred to as the SelfInterference Metric (SIM);

[0089] No_(ij)(t) which is a number of uplink data packets transmittedby the client devices from overlapping subnets and which are correctlyreceived by the ith beam on the jth channel. This is measured by thescanning receiver 822 and is averaged over the MeasurementDurationperiod. This is also referred to as the Overlapping Subnet Interference(OSI);

[0090] Ne_(ij)(t) which is a number of uplink data packets with PLCP ordata CRC errors in the ith beam on the jth channel and which is measuredby the scanning receiver 822 and averaged over the MeasurementDurationperiod. This is also referred to as the Unidentified Interference Metric(UIM); and

[0091] I_(ij)(t) which is the interference of the ith beam on the jthchannel and which is measured by the scanning receiver 822.

[0092] These and other metrics can be maintained with a memory component818 in a data table (or similar data construct) within theMeasurementCycle. When the cycle restarts, the data table can either becleared or updated with some aging factor to identify past metrics.

[0093] The metric I_(ij)(t) can be derived from other measurements whenthe receiver/transmitters 824 are on the same channel. In such cases,I_(ij)(t) can be estimated by first estimating a total number of packetsfrom any overlapping subnets by an equation:${{NI}_{ij}(t)} = {{{No}_{ij}(t)} + {{{Ne}_{ij}(t)} \cdot \frac{{No}_{ij}(t)}{{{Nr}_{ij}(t)} + {{Nn}_{ij}(t)} + {{No}_{ij}(t)}}}}$

[0094] Further, I_(ij)(t) may be estimated by:${I_{ij}(t)} = {\frac{{NI}_{ij}(t)}{{{NS}_{i}(t)} + {{Nr}_{ij}(t)} + {{Nn}_{ij}(t)} + {{No}_{ij}(t)} + {{Ne}_{ij}(t)}} \cdot \rho_{ij}}$

[0095] For channel assignment pre-processing, a channel that hasinterference activity which exceeds HeavyInterference for aBadChannelThreshold is not used. The interference activity is averagedover intervals of the MeasurementDuration period. In an implementation,a MeasurementCycle can include forty-eight measurement intervals. Achannel can be eliminated if the interference activity HeavyInterferenceexceeds the BadChannelThreshold for a specified number of periods.

[0096] The total number of active users (e.g., client devices)associated with any one directed communication beam 214 (FIG. 2) or 602(FIG. 6) can be estimated by dividing the number of associated users ofthat communication beam by the percentage of time available to thoseusers. The total number of users on beam i and channel j may thereforebe described by:${N_{ij}(t)} = \frac{N_{i}(t)}{1 -^{\sim}{I_{ij}(t)}}$

[0097] where {tilde over ()}I_(ij)(t)=min{I_(ij)(t), HeavyInterference}which is the interference activity limited to a maximum allowableinterference on a given communication beam. This ensures that theestimate does not provide large peaks due to an unusual period of highinterference.

[0098] A block-based channel assignment algorithm assigns adjacentcommunication beams to the same frequency channel which minimizes thehidden beam problem as described further with reference to FIG. 14. Thealgorithm allocates the thirteen communication beams into a maximum ofthree blocks, with each block assigned to one frequency channel (e.g.,channels 1, 6, or 11) so that the peak load on each channel isminimized. To determine an optimal solution, the boundaries between theassignment blocks (i.e. the number of communication beams in each block)and the frequency channel of each block is determined.

[0099] There are sixty-six possible combinations that divide thirteencommunication beams into three blocks. For each of these possiblecombinations, the three blocks would be assigned to the three differentchannels. The number of channel permutations is six and the bestchannel-beam combination from three hundred, ninety-six (66×6=396)possible combinations can be determined. A factor L_(j)(t) is denoted asthe total load on the jth frequency channel at time (t) such thatL_(j)*=max{L_(j)(t)} where t is set [0, T] which is the the peak load onthe jth channel in the last measurement period, and where T is themeasurement cycle (i.e., MeasurementCycle). A combination can bedetermined that minimizes the peak load on all of the channels which canbe described as min{max{L_(j)*}} where j is of the set [f₁,f₆,f₁₁].

[0100] In an event that the overall network communication load, ortraffic, is minimal, fewer than the three frequency channels may beused. A parameter PeakLoadLimit identifies a communication load limitbelow which only two of the frequency channels (e.g., channel 1 andchannel 11, for example) are used. If the peak communication load oneither of the two channels exceeds the PeakLoadLimit, then the threefrequency channels can be utilized.

[0101] The block-based channel assignment algorithm can be implementedto utilize two or three frequency channels. Initially, the thirteencommunication beams are divided into two blocks of which there aretwelve possible combinations. For each combination, the channelselections can be f₁f₆, f₁f₁₁, f₆f₁, f₆f₁₁, f₁₁f₁, or f₁₁f₆ such thatthere are a total of seventy-two block and channel combinations.Assuming that the kth block-channel combination has a configuration asfollows:

[0102] Block 1: communication beams 0 to b_(k) (0 to N−2) are assignedto channel C₁; and

[0103] Block 2: communication beams b_(k)+1 to N−1 (1 to N−1) areassigned to channel C₂

[0104] Then the communication traffic load of channels C₁ and C₂ are:${L_{C1}^{k}(t)} = {\overset{b_{k}}{\sum\limits_{i = 0}}{N_{iC1}(t)}}$${L_{C2}^{k}(t)} = {\overset{N - 1}{\sum\limits_{i = {b_{k} + 1}}}{N_{iC2}(t)}}$

[0105] The peak communication load on the first block for combination kis denoted by: PL₁(k)={L^(k) _(C1)(t)} where t is of the set [0, T]

PL ₂(k)=max{L ^(k) _(C2)(t)} where t is of the set [0,T],

[0106] and the peak communication load for the busiest block (e.g.,channel) is:

PL _(max)(k)=max{PL ₁(k), PL ₂(k)}

[0107] A combination index R with the least peak communication load isthen selected such that PL_(max)(R)=min{PL_(max)(k)} where (0≦k≦71)which is the combination of channels and beams that minimize the peakload on any channel. If the peak load on a channel is not less than thePeakLoadLimit, then a three channel assignment can be implemented.Initially, the thirteen communication beams are divide into three blocksof which there are sixty-six possible combinations. For eachcombination, the channel selections can be f₁f₆f₁₁, f₁f₁₁f₆, f₆f₁f₁₁,f₆f₁₁f₁, f₆, or f₁₁f₆f₁ such that there are a total of three-hundred,ninety-six block and channel combinations. Assuming that the kthblock-channel combination has a configuration as follows:

[0108] Block 1: communication beams 0 to b_(k) (0 to N−3) are assignedto channel C₁; and

[0109] Block 2: communication beams b_(k)+1 to p_(k) (1 to N−2) areassigned to channel C₂; and

[0110] Block 3: communication beams p_(k)+1 to N−1 (2 to N−1) areassigned to channel C₃;

[0111] Then the communication traffic load of channels C₁, C₂, and C₃are:${L_{C1}^{k}(t)} = {\overset{b_{k}}{\sum\limits_{i = 0}}{N_{iC1}(t)}}$${L_{C2}^{k}(t)} = {\overset{p_{k}}{\sum\limits_{i = {b_{k} + 1}}}{N_{iC2}(t)}}$${L_{C3}^{k}(t)} = {\overset{N - 1}{\sum\limits_{i = {p_{k} + 1}}}{N_{iC3}(t)}}$

[0112] The peak communication load on the first block for combination kis denoted by: PL₁(k)=max{L^(k) _(C1)(t)} where t is of the set [0, T]

PL ₂(k)=max{L ^(k) _(C2)(t)} where t is of the set [0,T],

PL ₃(k)=max{L ^(k) _(C3)(t)} where t is of the set [0,T],

[0113] and the peak communication load for the busiest block (e.g.,channel) is:

PL _(max)(k)=max{PL ₁(k), PL ₂(k), PL ₂(k)}

[0114] A combination index R with the least peak communication load isthen selected such that PL_(max)(R)=min{PL_(max)(k)} where (0≦k≦395)which is the combination of channels and beams that minimize the peakload on any channel.

[0115] When taking into account intermodulation such that channelcombinations f₁f₆ and f₆f₁₁ are to be avoided, then f₆ is avoided.Initially, the thirteen communication beams are divide into two blocksof which there are twelve possible combinations. For each combination,the channel selections can be f₁f₁₁ and f₁₁f₁ such that there are atotal of twenty-four block and channel combinations. Assuming that thekth block-channel combination has a configuration as follows:

[0116] Block 1: communication beams 0 to b_(k) (0 to N−2) are assignedto channel C₁; and

[0117] Block 2: communication beams b_(k)+1 to N−1 (1 to N−1) areassigned to channel C₂

[0118] Then the communication traffic load of channels f₁ and f₁₁ is thesum of the loads of the communication beams assigned to those channelsas follows: $\begin{matrix}{{L_{f1}^{k}(t)} = {\sum\limits_{f_{1}}{N_{if1}(t)}}} & {\forall\left( {i \in f_{1}} \right)}\end{matrix}$ $\begin{matrix}{{L_{f11}^{k}(t)} = {\sum\limits_{f_{11}}{N_{if11}(t)}}} & {\forall\left( {i \in f_{11}} \right)}\end{matrix}$

[0119] The peak communication load on the first block for combination kis denoted by: PL₁(k)=max{L^(k) _(f1)(t)} where t is of the set [0, T]

PL ₂(k)=max{L ^(k) _(f11)(t)} where t is of the set [0,T],

[0120] and the peak communication load for the busiest block (e.g.,channel) is:

PL _(max)(k)=max{PL ₁(k), PL ₂(k)}

[0121] A combination index R with the least peak communication load isthen selected such that PL_(max)(R)=min{PL_(max)(k)} where (0≦k≦71)which is the combination of channels and beams that minimize the peakload on any channel. If the peak load on a channel is not less than thePeakLoadLimit, then a three channel assignment can be implemented.

[0122] Memory component(s) 818 can maintain routing and signalinformation which can include transmit power level information, transmitdata rate information, antenna pointing direction information, weightinginformation, constraints information, null/zero location information,peak location information, quality of service (QoS) information,priority information, lifetime information, frequency information,timing information, user and node authentication information, keep outarea information, etc., that is associated with each sending andreceiving communication channel of the wireless communication system andwithin the multi-beam directed signal system 206. In an implementation,at least some of routing information can be maintained with memorycomponent(s) 818 within one or more routing tables or similar datastructure(s).

[0123] The routing table(s) or similar data structure(s) provide aninformation basis for each routing decision within the wirelesscommunication system (e.g., multi-beam directed signal system 206). Byway of example, routing table(s) entries may include all or part of thefollowing information:

[0124] IP address (e.g., IPv6) of a node in the wireless network—e.g.,as an index,

[0125] 48-bit unique address—e.g., IEEE 802.1 MAC address,

[0126] Protocol ID—e.g., IEEE 802.11, 802.16.1, etc.,

[0127] Modulation method,

[0128] Connection ID (CID) of a node—e.g., as used in an IEEE 802.16.1MAC,

[0129] Nominal direction to a node—e.g., one or two dimension,

[0130] Nominal transmit power level to a node,

[0131] Nominal received signal strength indicator (RSSI) level from anode,

[0132] Nominal channel to transmit on, and perhaps a backup channel,

[0133] Nominal channel to receive on, and perhaps a backup channel,

[0134] Nominal transmission data rate, e.g., 6 Mbps-54 Mbps, or asavailable,

[0135] Nominal receive data rate, e.g., 6 Mbps-54 Mbps, or as available,

[0136] Known station interference nulls, and

[0137] Unknown station interference nulls.

[0138] In an exemplary implementation, and within the structure ofsignal control/coordination logic 304, the routing table(s) areconfigured to receive or include data and/or primitives (e.g., functioncalls) from an Internet Protocol (IP) layer and a medium access control(MAC) layer, and to instruct a physical (PHY) layer to provide mediaaccess through the MAC layer. Therefore, in some examples, a routingtable is more than simply a data table (or other similar structure)since it may also perform or otherwise support controlling and/orscheduling functions.

[0139] The communication interface(s) 820 can be implemented as any oneof a serial, parallel, network, or wireless interface thatcommunicatively couples the multi-beam directed signal system 206 withother electronic and/or computing devices. For example, the multi-beamdirected signal system 206 can be coupled with a wired connection (e.g.,an input/output cable) via a communication interface 820 to a networkswitch that communicates digital information corresponding to acommunication signal to a server computing device. Any of thecommunication interfaces 820 can also be implemented as an input/outputconnector to couple digital, universal serial bus (USB), local areanetwork (LAN), wide area network (WAN), metropolitan area network (MAN),and similar types of information and communication connections.

[0140] The scanning receiver 822 scans each directed communication beam(e.g., directed communication beams 214 shown in FIGS. 2 and 3)consecutively and monitors for client devices and associated informationsuch as the transmit power of a client device, roaming status, and themany other communication factors to update data that is maintained abouteach client device that is in communication via a communication beam. Inan implementation, the scanning receiver 822 can be described in twooperating states: a scan mode and a roaming mode. While operating in thescan mode, the scanning receiver 822 periodically scans the thirteencommunication beams on the three channels and collects activityinformation to be maintained with the client device data.

[0141]FIG. 9 illustrates an exemplary multi-beam directed signal system206 that includes various components such as medium access controllers(MACs) 900, baseband units (BB) 902, and MAC coordinator logic 904. Themulti-beam directed signal system 206 also includes radio frequency (RF)components 906 such as the left and right transmit antenna boards 800and 802 (shown in FIG. 8), respectively, and the left and right receiveantenna boards 804 and 806, respectively. This example also illustratesthe antenna array 302, the transmit beam-forming network 808 and thereceive beam-forming network 810, and an Ethernet switch and/or router908.

[0142] As described in the implementation with reference to FIG. 8,antenna array 302 (e.g., via antenna assembly 208) is coupled to thebeam-forming networks 808 (transmit) and 810 (receive). The beam-formingnetworks 808 and 810 are coupled to multiple RF components 906(1),906(2), . . . , 906(N). Respective RF components 906(1), 906(2), . . . ,906(N) are each coupled to a respective baseband unit 902(1), 902(2), .. . , 902(N) which are coupled to MAC coordinator logic 904. TheEthernet switch/router 908 is coupled to the multiple MACs 900(1),900(2), . . . , 900(N) which are also each coupled to MAC coordinatorlogic 904.

[0143] In operation generally, each MAC 900 is associated with arespective baseband unit 902. Although not specifically shown in FIG. 9,each respective MAC 900 may also be communicatively coupled to acorresponding baseband unit 902. MAC coordinator logic 904 is configuredto coordinate the activities of the multiple MACs 900 with regard to atleast one non-associated respective baseband unit 902. For example, MACcoordinator logic 904 may forward an instruction to MAC 900(1)responsive, at least partly, to an indicator provided from baseband unit902(2). MAC coordinator logic 904 can be implemented as hardware,software, firmware, and/or some combination thereof.

[0144] The Ethernet switch/router 908 is coupled to Ethernet backbone212 (FIG. 2) and is configured to relay incoming packets from Ethernetbackbone 212 to the appropriate MAC 900 to which they correspond.Ethernet switch/router 908 is also configured to relay outgoing packetsfrom the multiple MACs 900 to Ethernet backbone 212. Ethernetswitch/router 908 may be implemented using, for example, a generalpurpose central processing unit (CPU) and memory. The CPU and memory canhandle layer-2 Internet protocol (IP) responsibilities, flow control,and so forth. When receiving packets from Ethernet backbone 212,Ethernet switch/router 908 obtains the destination port for thedestination MAC 900 address. In this manner, an Ethernet switch and/orrouter may be realized using software (or hardware, firmware, somecombination thereof, etc.).

[0145] The beam-forming networks 808 and 810, in conjunction withantenna array 302, form the multiple directed communication beams 214(FIGS. 2 and 3). A beam-forming network can be implemented as an activeor passive beam-former. Examples of such active and passive beam-formersinclude a tuned vector modulator (multiplier), a Butler matrix, a Rotmanlens, a canonical beam-former, a lumped-element beam-former with staticor variable inductors and capacitors, and so forth. Alternatively,communication beams may be formed using full adaptive beam-forming.

[0146] As described with reference to FIGS. 8A and 8B, a beam-formingnetwork 808 and 810 may include multiple ports for connecting to antennaarray 302 and additional ports for connecting to the multiple RFcomponents 906. One or more active components (e.g., a power amplifier(PA), a low-noise amplifier (LNA), etc.) may also be coupled to themultiple ports on the antenna array side of the beam-forming networks808 and 810. Thus, antenna array 302 may be directly or indirectlycoupled to the beam-forming networks 808 and 810.

[0147] The beam-forming networks 808 and 810 may include at least “N”ports for each of the multiple RF components 906(1, 2, . . . , N). In anexample implementation, each communication beam 214 emanating fromantenna array 302 corresponds to an RF component 906. Each RF component906 can be implemented as a transmit and/or receive signal processoroperating at radio frequencies and each RF component 906 can operate atone or more frequencies, with each frequency corresponding to adifferent channel. It should be noted that channels may be definedalternatively (and/or additionally) using a mechanism other thanfrequency, such as a code, a time slot, a signal node, some combinationthereof, and so forth.

[0148] As described above, each respective RF component 906(1, 2, . . ., N) is coupled to a respective baseband unit 902(1, 2, . . . , N) andeach respective MAC 900(1, 2, . . . , N) is associated with acorresponding baseband unit 902(1, 2, . . . , N). Although notillustrated in this example or required, each MAC 900 and associatedrespective baseband unit 902 may be located on individual respectiveelectronic cards. Additionally, the respective RF component 906 to whicheach respective baseband unit 902 is coupled may also be located on theindividual respective electronic cards.

[0149] Each respective MAC 900 and corresponding baseband unit 902 maybe associated with a different respective access point, such as accesspoints 702(1, 2, . . . , N) (FIG. 7). Each respective RF component 906,along with signal nodes (e.g., ports, communication nodes, etc.) of thebeam-forming networks 808 and 810, and/or antenna array 302, andrespective communication beams 214 may also correspond to the differentrespective access points 702. The MACs 900 are configured to controlaccess to the media that is provided, at least partially, by basebandunits 902. In this case, the media corresponds to the signalstransmitted and/or received via communication beams 214 (FIGS. 2 and 3).These signals can be analog, digital, and so forth. In a describedimplementation, digital signals comprise one or more data packets.

[0150] In a packet-based environment, a data packet arriving at themulti-beam directed signal system 206 (or at access station 102) via aparticular communication beam 214 from a particular remote client device202 (FIG. 2) is received via the antenna array 302 and the beam-formingnetworks 808 and/or 810. The data packet is processed through aparticular RF component 906 and a corresponding baseband unit 902. Thedata packet is then forwarded from baseband unit 902 to a correspondingMAC 900 which facilitates data packet communication via the Ethernetbackbone 212 (FIG. 2) by Ethernet switch/router 908. Data packetsarriving at the multi-beam directed signal system 206 (or at accessstation 102) via Ethernet switch/router 908 are transmitted to a remoteclient device 202 and/or 204 via directed communication beam(s) 214 inan opposite communication path. The transmission and reception of datapackets via directed communication beams 214, as well as the forwardingof packets within the multi-beam directed signal system 206 iscontrolled at least partially by the MACs 900.

[0151] In a typical MAC-baseband environment, a MAC controls theassociated baseband circuitry using input solely from the associatedbaseband circuitry. For example, if baseband circuitry indicates to itsassociated MAC that it is receiving a packet, then the associated MACdoes not initiate the baseband circuitry to transmit a packet, which canjeopardize the integrity of the packet being received.

[0152] With co-located access points 702 (e.g., as in FIG. 7) and/orco-located pairs of MACs 900 and associated baseband units 902, a firstaccess point 702(1) and/or a first MAC 900(1)/baseband unit 902(1) pairare unaware of the condition or state (e.g., transmitting, receiving,idle, etc.) of a second access point 702(2) and/or a second MAC900(2)/baseband unit 902(2) pair, and vice versa. As a result, absentadditional control and/or logic, a data packet being received by thefirst access point 702(1) and/or the first MAC 900(1)/baseband unit902(1) pair can be corrupted (e.g., altered, destroyed, interfered with,rendered unusable for its intended purpose, etc.) by a transmission fromthe second access point 702(2) and/or the second MAC 900(2)/basebandunit 902(2) pair. This corruption may occur even though the packetreception and the packet transmission are effectuated using differentcommunication beams 214(3) and 214(2), respectively, when the receptionand transmission occur on the same channel. Effectively, an incomingdata packet reception via a first communication beam 214 can be renderedunsuccessful by an outgoing data packet transmission via a secondcommunication beam 214 that occurs on the same channel and isoverlapping.

[0153] As described above, MAC coordinator logic 904 is coupled to themultiple baseband units 902(1, 2, . . . , N) and to the multiple MACs900(1, 2, . . . , N). The MAC coordinator logic 904 is configured toprevent MACs 900(1, 2, . . . , N) from generating or otherwise causing atransmission if at least one and optionally if any of the baseband units902(1, 2, . . . , N) are receiving. For example, if baseband unit 902(2)indicates that it is receiving a data packet, MAC coordinator logic 904initiates that MACs 900(1, 2, . . . , N) refrain from generating orotherwise causing a data packet transmission during the data packetreception. Factors that can modify, tune, tweak, extend, etc. this datapacket transmission restraint may include one or more of the MACs 900enabling transmissions on different channel(s) from that of basebandunit 902(2) which is receiving.

[0154] More specifically, each baseband unit 902 forwards acorresponding receive indicator to MAC coordinator logic 904 whichmonitors the baseband units 902. The MAC coordinator logic 904 analyzesthe receive indicators to generate constructive receive indicators thatare communicated, or otherwise provided, to each of the MACs 900. In adescribed implementation, each baseband unit 902 forwards a receiveindicator that reflects whether and/or when a baseband unit 902 iscurrently receiving a signal. Optionally, not physically forwarding anindicator may constitute a receive indicator that reflects no signal isbeing received. After processing the different receive indicators, MACcoordinator logic 904 forwards the same constructive receive indicatorto each MAC 900 based on multiple, and possibly all, receive indicators.The MAC coordinator logic 904 may provide different constructive receiveindicators to at least different subsets of the MACs 900.

[0155] The receive indicators forwarded to MAC coordinator logic 904 maybe comprised of any one or more different indications from the basebandunits 902. For example, the receive indicators may comprise clearchannel assessment (CCA) or busy/non-busy indications. Alternatively,the receive indicators may comprise indications of signal receptionbased on energy signals, cross-correlation signals, data signals, othertransmit and/or control signals, some combination thereof, and so forth.Furthermore, a receive indicator may comprise an analog or digitalindication (of one or more bits), the driving of one or more lines, thepresentation of one or more messages, some combination thereof, and soforth.

[0156] The MAC coordinator logic 904 is configured to accept the receiveindicators from the baseband units 902 and combine them in some mannerto generate or otherwise produce the constructive receive indicator(s).For example, MAC coordinator logic 904 may “OR” the receive indicatorstogether to generate the constructive receive indicator(s).Consequently, if any receive indicator from baseband units 902 indicatesthat a baseband unit is receiving a signal, then the constructivereceive indicator indicates to each MAC 900 that a reception isoccurring on a directed communication beam 214 (and/or access point 702)of the multi-beam directed signal system 206. As a result, the MACs 900that are provided with an affirmative constructive receive indicator donot cause their respective associated baseband units 902 to transmit.

[0157] The constructive receive indicators provided from MAC coordinatorlogic 904 may be comprised of any one or more different indicationsinterpretable by the MACs 900. For example, the constructive receiveindicators may comprise an indication for one or more predeterminedinputs, such as a CCA or busy/non-busy input of the MACs 900.Alternatively, the constructive receive indicators may be input to adifferent type of do-not-transmit input, a specially-designed input, amessage-capable input, some combination thereof, and so forth.Furthermore, a constructive receive indicator may comprise an analog ordigital indication (of one or more bits), the driving of one or morelines, the presentation of one or more messages, some combinationthereof, and the like.

[0158]FIG. 10 further illustrates various components of the multi-beamdirected signal system 206 shown in FIG. 9 which includes the MACs 900,baseband units 902, and MAC coordinator logic 904. In this example, theexemplary multi-beam directed signal system 206 includes thirteen MACs900(1, 2, . . . , 13) and thirteen baseband units 902(1, 2, . . . , 13)that are associated respectively therewith. Thirteen baseband units902(1, 2, . . . , 13) and thirteen MACs 900(1, 2, . . . , 13) areutilized in this exemplary multi-beam directed signal system 206 tocomport with the efficiently usable communication beams 602(0-6) and602(10-15) of the exemplary set of communication beams shown in FIG. 6.However, the elements and features described with reference to FIG. 10are applicable to multi-beam directed signal systems 206 and/or accessstations 102 with more than or fewer than thirteen MACs 900 andassociated baseband units 902.

[0159] The baseband units 902(1, 2, . . . , 13) are configured tocommunicate with MACs 900(1, 2, . . . , 13), and vice versa, directly orindirectly without MAC coordinator logic 904 input. Specifically,control data may be transferred there between which may include, forexample, data packets for wireless communication on communication beams214 (FIGS. 2 and 3), carrier sense multiple access/collision avoidance(CSMA/CA) type information, and so forth. The media access technique in802.11 is based on a Carrier Sense Multiple Access (CSMA) operation inwhich a each station transmits only when it determines that no otherstation is currently transmitting. This tends to avoid collisions thatoccur when two or more stations transmit at the same time where acollision would typically require that a transmitted packet beretransmitted.

[0160] In this example, the baseband units 902(1, 2, . . . , 13) forwardreceive indicators (1, 2, . . . , 13) to MAC coordinator logic 904. TheMAC coordinator logic 904 includes a receive indicators combiner 1000which may be comprised of one or more of program coding, afield-programmable gate array, discrete logic gates, and so forth, andwhich may be implemented as hardware, software, firmware, and/or somecombination thereof. Receive indicators combiner 1000 combines receiveindicators (1, 2, . . . , 13) to generate constructive receiveindicators (1, 2, . . . , 13). For example, receive indicators (1, 2, .. . , 13) may be combined using a logical “OR” functionality whichensures that if any one or more receive indicators of receive indicators(1, 2, . . . , 13) is indicating that a signal is being received, thenthe associated constructive receive indicators of constructive receiveindicators (1, 2, . . . , 13) also indicate that a signal is beingreceived.

[0161] The constructive receive indicators (1, 2, . . . , 13) areprovided or otherwise communicated to MACs 900(1, 2, . . . , 13),respectively, so that MACs 900(1, 2, . . . , 13) do not cause basebandunits 902(1, 2, . . . , 13) to transmit a signal while another signal isbeing received. The baseband units 902(1, 2, . . . , 13) and the MACs900(1, 2, . . . , 13) may be segmented or grouped by a characteristicand/or state, such as by wireless communication channels. When segmentedor grouped, a constructive receive indicator of a given segment or groupindicates to a MAC that a signal is being received and that no signalshould therefore be transmitted when any receive indicator of that givensegment or group indicates that a signal is being received (or whenmultiple receive indicators of that given segment or group indicate thatmultiple signals are being received).

[0162] The MAC coordinator logic 904 can be modified, adjusted,expanded, etc. based on any number of different factors that includechannel assignment information 1002, receive indicator enableinformation 1004, timer logic 1006, and scanning logic 1008. Althoughillustrated as separate components, any one or combination of thechannel assignment information 1002, receive indicator enableinformation 1004, timer logic 1006, and/or scanning logic 1008 can beimplemented together and/or as part of MAC coordinator logic 904 or asanother component of a multi-beam directed signal system 206.

[0163] Channel assignment information 1002 enables receive indicators(1, 2, . . . , 13) to be combined by the receive indicators combiner1000 on a per-channel basis. As a result, constructive receiveindicators (1, 2, . . . , 13) restrain signal transmissions from MAC 900and baseband unit 902 pairs when a signal reception is occurring on thesame channel, even if by a different MAC 900 and baseband unit 902 pair.A downlinked data packet that is transmitted on one channel while anuplinked data packet is being received on another channel does notusually cause the uplinked data packet to be corrupted. On the otherhand, a downlinked data packet that is transmitted on a channel while anuplinked data packet is being received on the same channel does usuallycause the uplinked data packet to be corrupted (e.g., indistinguishable,non-communicative, etc.), even if the transmission and reception occurvia different communication beams 214 (FIGS. 2 and 3).

[0164] Channel assignment information 1002 may be implemented as, forexample, a vector that relates each MAC 900 and associated baseband unit902 to one of two or more channels. Hence, prior to a combinationgenerated by the receive indicators combiner 1000, each respectivereceive indicator (1, 2, . . . , 13) can be mapped to a channelsegmentation or grouping based on a wireless communication channel usedby a corresponding MAC 900 and baseband unit 902 pair.

[0165] Receive indicator enable information 1004 provides informationfor receive indicators combiner 1000 that stipulates which receiveindicators (1, 2, . . . , 13) are to be used in a combination operationto produce the constructive receive indicators (1, 2, . . . , 13). Thus,certain receive indicators may be excluded from the combinationoperation for one or more operational considerations. The receiveindicator enable information 1004 may be implemented as, for example, amasking register 1010 that comprises a register with exclusionary bitsfor masking one or more of the receive indicators (1, 2, . . . , 13)from a combination operation of the receive indicators combiner 1000. Ina described implementation, masking register 1010 includes thirteen bitsthat correspond to the thirteen receive indicators (1, 2, . . . , 13),which correspond to the thirteen baseband units 902(1, 2, . . . , 13).

[0166] Timer logic 1006 can be used for one or more factors and,although only shown once, may alternatively be implemented as multiplecomponents in an exemplary multi-beam directed signal system 206 toaccount for multiple timer functions, or one implementation may becapable of handling multiple timer functions. Timer logic 1006 includesa watchdog timer 1012 and optionally watchdog interrupt enableinformation 1014.

[0167] For a first factor, timer logic 1006 relates to individualreceive indicators (1, 2, . . . , 13). A duration of watchdog timer 1012is set equal to a maximum data packet duration (e.g., a maximum-allowedlength of a data packet). Watchdog timer 1012 is started when aparticular receive indicator begins indicating that a signal is beingreceived and stopped when the particular receive indicator ceasesindicating that the signal is being received. If watchdog timer 1012 isnot tolled by an indication of signal reception cessation prior to itsexpiration, then the signal being received is likely to not be intendedfor multi-beam directed signal system 206. In this case, timer logic1006 may indicate that the baseband unit 902 corresponding to theparticular receive indicator is not to be used in a combinationoperation. This exclusion indication may be effectuated using receiveindicator enable information 1004 (e.g., by setting a bit in maskingregister 1010).

[0168] For a second factor, timer logic 1006 relates to constructivereceive indicators (1, 2, . . . , 13) on a per-channel basis. A durationof watchdog timer 1012 is set with consideration of a temporal thresholdbeyond which a problem or error should be contemplated to have occurredand hence investigated. Watchdog timer 1012 is started when a particularconstructive receive indicator (or indicators) for a given channelbegins indicating that a signal is being received on the given channeland stopped when the particular constructive receive indicator ceasesindicating that the signal is being received on the given channel. Ifwatchdog timer 1012 is not tolled by an indication of signal receptioncessation prior to its expiration, then there is a likelihood that anerror has occurred.

[0169] Watchdog interrupt enable information 1014 is used for thissecond factor, and it stipulates which channel(s) (and thus whichconstructive receive indicators) are enabled for interruption. Ifwatchdog timer 1012 expires and the given channel is enabled inaccordance with watchdog interrupt enable information 1014, an interruptis generated and provided to MAC coordinator logic 904 or anothercomponent of the multi-beam directed signal system 206.

[0170] Scanning logic 1008 may act independently or interactively withany one or more of channel assignment information 1002, receiveindicator enable information 1004, and timer logic 1006. For example,scanning logic 1008 can scan across communication beams 214 usingdifferent channels on receive to detect which channel or channels havethe least or lowest interference levels. This scanning may occur once,periodically, continuously, and the like. A channel assignment vector orsimilar for channel assignment information 1002 may be configuredresponsive to such scanning and interference determinations of scanninglogic 1008.

[0171] As another example, scanning logic 1008 may scan acrosscommunication beams 214 to detect the presence of other access points(e.g., non-co-located access points) that are causing interference on aregular or constant basis. The existence of an access point may beinferred by receiving a basic service set identifier (BSSID) beingbroadcast by another access point. When another access point is detectedwithin a coverage area of a particular communication beam 214 (e.g.,when an overlapping subnet is detected), scanning logic 1008 mayinteract with receive indicator enable information 1004 to mask out acorresponding receive indicator from a baseband unit 902 thatcorresponds to the particular communication beam 214. As a result,frequent receptions from the overlapping subnet do not constantlyprevent baseband unit 902 and MAC 900 pairs on the same channel fromtransmitting.

[0172] In an exemplary implementation, multi-beam directed signal system206 can be configured such that the receive indicators (1, 2, . . . ,13) correspond to the state of the clear channel assessment (CCA) outputas detected by baseband units 902(1, 2, . . . , 13), and theconstructive receive indicators (1, 2, . . . , 13) correspond to thestate of the clear channel assessment input to MACs 900(1, 2, . . . ,13). Based on the values for receive indicators (1, 2, . . . , 13),channel assignment information 1002, and receive indicator enableinformation 1004, MAC coordinator logic 904 determines the constructivereceive indicators (1, 2, . . . , 13) for each RF component 906 (FIG. 9)(as provided via MACs 900, baseband units 902, etc).

[0173] In an exemplary implementation, MAC coordinator logic 904 isconfigured to operate such that an indicator “channel_,wide_busy” foreach channel is defined, where channel_wideh_busy is affirmative (e.g.,active) if the receive indicator from any baseband units operating onthat channel indicates that a signal is being received, excluding thosebaseband units whose receive indicator enable information is not set(e.g., in masking register 1010). Further, MAC coordinator logic 904sets the constructive receive indicator for a particular MAC 900 andbaseband unit 902 pair to affirmative (e.g., busy) if the receiveindicator for that baseband unit 902 indicates affirmative (e.g., busy),or if “channel_wide_busy” for the channel of the particular MAC 900 andbaseband unit 902 pair is affirmative (e.g., active).

[0174]FIG. 11 illustrates a state transition diagram 1100 for a MACcontroller 900 as shown in FIGS. 9 and 10. MAC controller states includeDefer 1102, BackOff 1104, Idle 1106, TransmissionRTS (TRTS) 1108,WaitCTS 1110, Transmission Data (TxData) 1112, Wait Acknowledgement(WaitACK) 114, Receive 1116, Transmission Acknowledgement (TxACK) 1118,and TransmissionCTS (TxCTS) 1120. The state transition diagram 1100 alsoincludes received frame types Data 1126 and RTS 1128, as well asprocedures Transmission okay (TxOK( )) 1122 and Transmission fail(TxFail( )) 1124.

[0175] The TxOK( ) procedure 1122 removes bytes transmitted from anoutgoing queue and resets retry counter(s) and a contention window. TheTxFail( ) procedure 1124 increments a retry counter, checks that thenumber of retries has not been exceeded, and increases the contentionwindow. The Receive state 1116 ends if there is a transmission or checkerror, if the carrier is lost, or when a duration indicated in a headerhas elapsed. If there is an error, the Defer state 1102 timeout is setto initiate. If a frame did not have an error and is not addressed to aparticular station, and it's duration field is greater than the currenttimer value, then the timer is set to the value of the frame's durationfield.

[0176] At the BackOff state 1104, a backoff counter is decremented everyslot time and a backoff count is saved if this state is exited due to achannel becoming busy. When the backoff counter decrements to zero andMAC service data units are queued to transmit, the contention window andretry counts are reset. A MAC service data unit is the payload carriedby a MAC (e.g., in an 802.11 implementation which will typically be anEthernet frame). The MAC 900 adds a MAC header and a 32-bit CRC to theMAC service data unit to form a MAC protocol data unit.

[0177] Additionally, the state transition diagram 1100 includes variousfunctions that return logical value(s) to control state transitions suchas data( ), short( ), more( ), busy( ), error( ), notforus( ), and nav(). The diagram 1100 also includes PHY indications that initiate a statetransition such as busy, timeout, new, transmission end (txend), andreceive end (rxend). The PHY indications are asynchronous events (e.g.,interrupts) that terminate states for a MAC controller 900. Anindication receive end (rxend) identifies that a receiver has detectedthe end of a frame or an error. An indication transmission end (txend)identifies that a receiver has completed sending a frame. A busyindication is a receiver indication that a channel is busy. A timeoutindication is generated when a transition state timer has expired. A newindication identifies that a new frame has been queued.

[0178] A busy( ) function returns a receiver indication that a channelis busy, and an error( ) function indicates that a received frame had aCRC error. A notforus( ) function indicates that a frame was notaddressed to a particular station, and a nay( ) function indicates thata timer has not expired. A data( ) function indicates that data isqueued to send, and a short( ) function indicates that a MAC protocoldata unit is shorter than an RTS Threshold and that there are additionaldata fragments to be sent from a current MAC controller. A more( )function facilitates obtaining the additional data fragments.

[0179]FIG. 12 illustrates an exemplary implementation 1200 of themulti-beam directed signal system 206 that weighs signals received viaantenna array 302. Communication and/or data transfer signals arereceived from sources 1202 (e.g., sources A and B). The signals receivedfrom sources 1202 are considered desired signals because they are fromnodes within the wireless routing network. Further, signals such asnoise and WLAN interference associated with another external wirelesssystem 1204 are not desired.

[0180] These signals, both desired and undesired, are received viaantenna array 302 and are provided to the signal control andcoordination logic 304 (shown in FIG. 3) from the receiver/transmitters(Rx/Tx) 824(0), 824(1), . . . , 824(N) (also shown in FIG. 8B). In thisexample, the signal control and coordination logic 304 includes thescanning receiver 822 that is configured to update routing information1206 with regard to the received signals. For example, scanning receiver822 may identify information about different classes of interferers(e.g., known and unknown types) within the routing information 1206. Inthis example, routing information 1206 includes connection indexedrouting table(s) based on identification information, such as addressinformation, CID, and the like. The routing table includes identifiersof the desired sources and other identifiers for the interferers(“Int”). Further, the routing table includes stored weighting values (w)each associated with a particular signal source 1202 (e.g., sources Aand B). Other information such as “keep out” identifiers may also beincluded in this exemplary routing table.

[0181] A description of the received signal(s) can be stored in therouting table in the form of the pattern or weighting of the signal(s).In this example, a polynomial expansion in z, w(z)=w₀+w₁z+w₂ ^(_(z))²+w₃z³+w₄ ⁴+ . . . +w_(i)z^(i) can be utilized to establish the valuesof the weights (w_(i)) to be applied to a weight vector. The routingtable(s) may store such weighing patterns as a function of θ, or thezeroes of the polynomial, for example. One advantage of zero storage isthat the zeros represent directions for communication that should benulled out to prevent self-interference or interfering with other nodesor possibly other known wireless communication systems, such as WLAN1204 that is not part of the wireless routing network, but is operatingwithin at least a portion of a potential coverage area 1208 andfrequency bands.

[0182] The polynomial expansion in z, w(z), and the zeroes may becalculated from each other and each may be stored. Updates can begenerated frequently (e.g., in certain implementations, about everymillisecond), and a zero storage system may be more advantageous in mostwireless network environments because only a few values will change at agiven time. Storing the weighting values will in general require changesto all of the weighting values w(i) when any change in the patternoccurs. Note that w(i) and A(θ) may be expressed as Fourier transformpairs (discrete due to the finite antenna element space). The w(i) isequivalent to a time domain impulse response (e.g., a time domain unitsample response) and the A(θ) is equivalent to the frequency response(e.g., an evaluation of w(z) sampled along a unit circle).

[0183] The stored weighting values associated with each connection, datasignal, and/or source are utilized in a weighting matrix 1210 whichoperates to apply the latest weighting values to the received signalsand also to transmitted signals. In this illustrative example,subsequently received signals will be processed using the most recentweighting values in the weighting matrix 1210. Thus, as describedherein, the multi-beam directed signal system 206 is configured tocontrol the transmission amplitude frequency band and directionality ofdata packets to other nodes and assist in reducing the effectsassociated with received noise and interference (e.g., self interferenceand/or external interference). This is accomplished with the signalcontrol and coordination logic 304 within the multi-beam directed signalsystem 206.

[0184]FIG. 13 illustrates an exemplary multi-beam directed signal system206 that includes an antenna array 302 and a Butler matrix 1300implemented as a beam-forming network (e.g., transmit beam-formingnetwork 808 and/or receive beam-forming network 810 shown in FIGS. 8Aand 8B). The multi-beam directed signal system 206 also includesmultiple signal processors (SPs) 1302 and one or more basebandprocessors (e.g., baseband units 902 described with reference to FIGS. 9and 10). Baseband processors 902 accept communication signals from andprovide communication signals to the multiple receiver/transmitters 824(FIG. 8B). A separate baseband processor 902 may be assigned to eachsignal processor 1302, or a single baseband processor 902 may beassigned to any number of the multiple signal processors 1302.

[0185] Exemplary Butler matrix 1300 is a passive device that forms, inconjunction with antenna array 302, communication beams 214 using signalcombiners, signal splitters, and/or signal phase shifters. Butler matrix1300 includes a first side with multiple antenna ports (designated by“A”) and a second side with multiple transmit and/or receive signalprocessor ports (designated by “Tx/Rx”). The number of antenna ports andtransmit/receive ports indicate the order of the Butler matrix 1300,which in this example, includes sixteen antenna ports and sixteentransmit/receive ports. Thus, Butler matrix 1300 has an order ofsixteen.

[0186] Although Butler matrix 1300 is so illustrated, the antenna portsand transmit/receive ports need not be distributed on separate, muchless opposite, sides of a Butler matrix. Also, although not necessary,Butler matrices typically have an equal number of antenna ports andtransmit and/or receive signal processor ports. Furthermore, althoughButler matrices are typically of an order that is a power of two (e.g.,2, 4, 8, 16, 32, 64, . . . , 2^(n)), they may alternatively beimplemented with any number of ports.

[0187] The sixteen antenna ports of Butler matrix 1300 are identified orotherwise numbered from A(0, 1, . . . , 15). Similarly, the sixteentransmit/receive ports are numbered from Tx/Rx(0, 1, . . . , 15).Antenna ports A(0-15) are coupled to and populated with sixteen antennaelements 400(0), 400(1), . . . , 400(15), respectively. Likewise,transmit/receive ports Tx/Rx(0-15) are coupled to and populated withsixteen signal processors 1302(0), 1302(1), . . . , 1302(15),respectively. These signal processors 1302 are also directly orindirectly coupled to baseband processors 902. It should be noted thatone or more active components (e.g., a power amplifier (PA), a low-noiseamplifier (LNA), etc.) may also be coupled on the antenna port side ofButler matrix 1300.

[0188] In an exemplary transmission operation, communication signals areprovided from baseband processors 902 to the multiple transmit and/orreceive signal processors 1302. The multiple signal processors 1302forward the communication signals to the transmit/receive portsTx/Rx(0-15) of Butler matrix 1300. After signal processing (e.g., signalcombination, signal splitting, signal phase shifting, and the like),Butler matrix 1300 outputs communication signals on the antenna portsA(0-15). Individual antenna elements 400 wirelessly transmit thecommunication signals, as altered by Butler matrix 1300, from theantenna ports A(0-15) in predetermined communication beam patterns. Thecommunication beam patterns are predetermined by the shape, orientation,constituency, etc. of antenna array 302 and by the Butler matrix 1300signal processing. In addition to transmissions, wireless signals suchas wireless communications 106 (FIG. 1) are received responsive to thecommunication beams 214 formed by antenna array 302 in conjunction withButler matrix 1300 in an inverse process.

[0189]FIG. 14 further illustrates an exemplary modified Butler matrix1300 for a complementary beam-forming, post-combining implementation.Complementary beam-forming is a technique to reduce the effect ofcommunication beam nulls and increase sidelobe levels without a severepower penalty to the main beam. This is done to reduce the effect of the“hidden beam”. As described below, increasing the range of 802.11networks without increased transmit power and using standard clients ispossible with adaptive antenna arrays, such as, for example, directionalhigh-gain antennas. Using high gain antennas, it is possible to directthe energy in a given direction and hence increase the range in thatdirection.

[0190] Forming directional transmit communication beams has the sideeffect of hiding the transmitted energy from some client devices in aCSMA network (i.e., negatively impacting the carrier sense mechanism inthe network). A client device measures the energy transmitted fromaccess points and from other client devices. If the client device cannotdetect the presence of other transmissions, it attempts to access themedium. Therefore, when directional communication beams are used, manyclient devices detect the medium as idle when in fact it is busy. Thishas an effect on the performance of the network and is referred to asthe “hidden beam” problem.

[0191] In practice, a communication beam (e.g., directional beam) has amain beam whose width can be controlled by the size of the antennaaperture, and sidelobes which vary in different directions. However,these communication beams may have nulls in certain directions thataffect the wireless network with a hidden beam. Since a given receiver'senergy detect threshold is usually lower than it's decoding threshold,it is possible to direct a high power signal towards an intended clientdevice and yet ensure a minimum transmit power towards other clients inthe network so that the signal may be detected by other clients.

[0192] Complementary beam-forming ensures a minimum transmit power inall directions while preserving the shape of the main communicationbeam. The complementary beam-forming techniques also ensure thatmultiple transmit beams in arbitrary directions are complemented byanother beam in all other directions. The complementary beam does notinterfere with the intended beams and increases the probability thatother users in the network can detect the signal.

[0193] The modified Butler matrix 1300 includes the antenna ports 400(0,1, . . . , N−1, N) and a gain mechanism 1400 configured to modify thesignal at output port 400(0). A transmit signal is input to acorresponding input port of the Butler matrix and, in conjunction withthe gain mechanism 1400, a complementary beam is formed due to theincrease in gain. The result is a directional communication beam fromthe antenna in a given direction. A complementary beam-forming,pre-combining implementation can also be implemented.

[0194] Mathematically, a complementary beam-forming, post-combiningimplementation may be described as: $y_{i} = \left\{ {{\begin{matrix}{\gamma \quad y_{i}} & {i = 0} \\y_{i} & {\gamma \geq 1}\end{matrix}\quad 0} \leq i \leq {N - 1}} \right.$

[0195] where y_(i) is the power applied to antenna element i and γ isthe gain value contained in the gain mechanism 1400. To ensure the sameoutput power as with no complementary beam-forming, the output voltageon all of the Butler matrix ports can be adjusted by a scaling factor:$G_{s} = \sqrt{\frac{N}{\gamma^{2} + N - 1}}$

[0196] The power for the main communication beam will then be:${\Delta \quad P} = \frac{\left( {\gamma + N - 1} \right)^{2}}{N\left( {\gamma^{2} + N - 1} \right)}$

[0197] or stated in terms of dB:${\Delta \quad P_{d\quad B}} = {10\quad \log \left\{ \frac{\left( {\gamma + N - 1} \right)^{2}}{N\left( {\gamma^{2} + N - 1} \right)} \right\}}$

[0198] For example, for a sixteen element antenna array 302, if γ=3.5,then the power loss is approximately one dB.

[0199]FIG. 15 illustrates a graph 1500 depicting the signal level output(dB) for certain ports of the modified Butler Matrix 1300 shown in FIG.14. Graph 1500 depicts the shape of a transmit communication beam 1502without complementary beam-forming and a transmit communication beam1504 with complementary beam-forming applied. In this example, thetransmit communication beam is derived from a signal at port 400(0) ofButler Matrix 1300. As shown, the output with complementary beam-forming(e.g., transmit communication beam 1504) has higher sidelobes in alldirections and removes all of the deep nulls except for the nulls on themain communication beam. The peak power of the main communication beamis approximately one dB lower than that without complementarybeam-forming.

[0200]FIG. 16 illustrates a transition diagram 1600 for a roaming clientdevice that transitions from one communication location within awireless network system to another. For example, client device 202 (FIG.2), while in wireless communication with access station 102 via directedcommunication beam 214(1) may roam (e.g., move, relocate, transition,etc.) such that communication with access station 102 would befacilitated via directed communication beam 214(2). A client deviceinitially associates to one directed signal of the multi-beam directedsignal system 206 by selecting the signal (e.g., communication beam)with the best signal at the time of association. However, because theclient device may be portable and/or the wireless environment may change(e.g., due to device transitions, interference, etc.), the initiallyselected directed signal may not provide a continuous, or the best,communication channel over which to communicate information (e.g., inthe data packets) and hence the client may have to roam and/or beassociated with another directed communication beam.

[0201] Roaming is dependent on client device implementation, isinitiated by a client device, and may not be directly controlled by themulti-beam directed signal system 206. In most commercially availableclient devices, roaming is triggered when the channel quality (SNR)falls below a threshold. The channel quality assessment (SNRmeasurement) is based on received strength of a directed communicationbeam. To ensure that a client device is associated with the best signal,the multi-beam directed signal system 206 directs the client device toroam to the directed communication beam with the best signal qualityusing a beam-switching algorithm.

[0202] Additionally, to ensure seamless roaming between communicationbeams, the multi-beam directed signal system 206 implements Inter-AccessPoint Protocol (IAPP) which is defined by IEEE 802.11f to supportinteroperability, mobility, handover messaging between directedcommunication beams 214, and coordination between access stations 102 ina wireless communications environment. Beam-switching can be implementedby the multi-beam controller 816 (FIG. 8B) in the multi-beam directedsignal system 206 to ensure that client devices are associated with thedirected communication beam 214 having the best signal level and IAPP toensure client-initiated seamless roaming.

[0203] The beam-switching algorithm disassociates a client device onceit moves out of an associated main communication beam. However, suchmovement of a client device is difficult to detect in the wirelessenvironment and disassociation may result in data packet loss and a longassociation procedure. The effect is particularly significant for clientdevices located between adjacent directed communication beams. Hence,the beam-switching algorithm will disassociate a client device whenthere is a determinable difference between signal qualities on differentcommunication beams.

[0204] With reference to FIG. 16, a client device may be described asbeing in a monitor state 1602, a correct beam test state 1604, and aforce roam state 1606. In the monitor state 1602, a client device isassociated with a directed communication beam 214 while the multi-beamdirected signal system 206 (e.g., access station 102) continues tosample and collect receive strength signal indications (RSSI) values foreach data packet received from the client device. The multi-beamcontroller 816 recalculates a new measure identified as a smoothed RSSIvalue (SmoothedRSSIValue) over an RSSI window size (RSSIWindowSize) andcompares it to an RSSI lower control limit threshold(RSSILowerControlLimit).

[0205] In the correct beam test state 1604, the scanning receiver 822measures the RSSIs and calculates a smoothed RSSI value(SmoothedRSSIValue) for the client device on each of the adjacent ports(e.g., communication beams). Samples of the RSSI window size(RSSIWindowSize) for the two adjacent ports are averaged and compared tothe same parameter for the current communication beam to determine thebest, or most effective, communication beam. In the force roam state1606, the client device is temporarily disassociated so that it cannotassociate to the current directed communication beam.

[0206] An association transition 1608 to the correct beam test state1604 occurs when a client device associates a directed communicationbeam 214. From the correct beam test state 1604, a correct beamtransition 1610 indicates that a current communication beam is the bestcommunication link between the client device and the multi-beam directedsignal system. New RSSI values are sampled and a new lower control limit(LowerControlLimit) is recalculated. A scan timeout transition 1612 fromthe correct beam test state 1604 indicates that the scanning receiver822 has been monitoring the adjacent communication beams for more than aroaming scan timeout duration (RoamingScanTimeout) without any decisionabout the correct beam.

[0207] From the monitor state 1602, a sample RSSI transition 1614indicates that the smoothed RSSI value (SmoothedRSSIValue) and the RSSIlower control limit (RSSILowerControlLimit) are re-calculated. Asmoothed RSSI drop transition 1616 from the monitor state 1602 drops thesmoothed RSSI value (SmoothedRSSIValue) to an RSSI lower control limit(RSSILowerControlLimit). A wrong beam transition 1618 from the correctbeam test state 1604 indicates a better communication beam is identifiedthat has an RSSI that exceeds the RSSI of the current communication beamby a signal drop threshold dB (SignalDropThreshold). The client deviceis disassociated from the current communication beam and a timeouttransition 1620 occurs after a roaming time out (RoamingTimeOut). Thestate information corresponding to the client device is then removed(e.g., deleted, discarded, etc.).

[0208] The lower control limit parameter (LowerControlLimit) iscalculated using both the mean and the standard deviation of RSSI asfollows:

LowerControlLimit={overscore (RSSI)}−2σ

[0209]$\overset{\_}{RSSI} = {\frac{1}{N}{\sum\limits_{i = 0}^{N - 1}\quad {RSSI}_{i}}}$

[0210] N=RSSIWindow Size in frames$\sigma = \sqrt{\frac{1}{N}{\sum\limits_{i = 0}^{N - 1}\left( \quad {{RSSI}_{i} - \overset{\_}{RSSI}} \right)^{2}}}$

[0211] The RSSI_(i) is the RSSI value reported for frame i. The N−1thframe is the most recent frame. The smoothed RSSI value(SmoothedRSSIValue (S)) is calculated when RSSI values are sample when adata packet is received. The smoothed RSSI value is calculated asS_(j)=0.1·RSSI_(j)+0.9·S_(j−1). This value is then compared to the lowercontrol limit (LowerControlLimit) and if it is larger than the limit,the client device enters the correct beam test state 1604. The IAPPseamless roaming enables seamless client-initiated roaming betweencommunication beams within an antenna panel, between antenna panels, andbetween an antenna panel and third party access points (e.g., accessstations, multi-beam directed signal system, etc.).

[0212] Methods for directed wireless communication may be described inthe general context of computer-executable instructions. Generally,computer-executable instructions include routines, programs, objects,components, data structures, and the like that perform particularfunctions or implement particular abstract data types. Methods fordirected wireless communication may also be practiced in distributedcomputing environments where functions are performed by remoteprocessing devices that are linked through a communications network. Ina distributed computing environment, computer-executable instructionsmay be located in both local and remote computer storage media,including memory storage devices.

[0213]FIG. 17 illustrates a method 1700 for directed wirelesscommunication. The order in which the method is described is notintended to be construed as a limitation, and any number of thedescribed method blocks can be combined in any order to implement themethod. Furthermore, the method can be implemented in any suitablehardware, software, firmware, or combination thereof.

[0214] At block 1702, a directed wireless communication is generated fordata communication with a client device. At block 1704, the directedwireless communication is received at an antenna assembly, and at block1706, a directed communication beam is emanated for the datacommunication with the client device. For example, the multi-beamdirected signal system 206 (shown in FIG. 2) generates a directedwireless communication for data communication with client device 202.Antenna assembly 208 receives the generated wireless communication andemanates a directed communication beam 214(1) for the data communicationwith client device 202. In an embodiment, the directed communicationbeam can be emanated from two or more antenna elements of the antennaassembly as an electromagnetic signal that includes transmission peaksand transmissions nulls within a coverage area of the directedcommunication beam 214(1).

[0215] At block 1708, the data communication is transmitted to theclient device via the directed communication beam. At block 1710, asecond directed communication beam is emanated for data communicationreception from a second client device, and at block 1712, a second datacommunication is received from the second client device via the seconddirected communication beam. For example, an additional directedcommunication beam 214(N) can be emanated from antenna assembly 208 fordata communication reception from client device 204. The datacommunication transmission (at block 1708) can be controlled so as notto interfere with receiving the second data communication (at block1712) and optionally, transmitting the data communication and receivingthe second directed data communication is simultaneous.

[0216]FIG. 18 illustrates a method 1800 for directed wirelesscommunication. The order in which the method is described is notintended to be construed as a limitation, and any number of thedescribed method blocks can be combined in any order to implement themethod. Furthermore, the method can be implemented in any suitablehardware, software, firmware, or combination thereof.

[0217] At block 1802, directed wireless communication is coordinatedwith client devices via directed communication beams emanated from anantenna assembly. For example, wireless communications are coordinatedby the signal control and coordination logic 304 (shown in FIG. 3) withclient devices 202 and 204 (FIG. 2) via directed communication beams214(1) and 214(N), respectively, which are emanated from antennaassembly 208. A directed communication beam can be emanated as anelectromagnetic signal that includes transmission peaks and transmissionnulls within a coverage area of the directed communication beam.Further, energy can be transmitted on a side lobe of a directedcommunication beam corresponding to a first client device such that asecond client device will detect the side lobe energy and recognize thata data communication transmission is being emanated to the first clientdevice via the directed communication beam.

[0218] The directed wireless communication can be coordinated such thatonly client device 202 receives a first directed wireless communicationvia communication beam 214(1), and such that only client device 204receives a second directed wireless communication via communication beam214(N). Coordinating directed wireless communication can includesimultaneous data communication transmission to client device 202 viadirected communication beam 214(1) and a data communication receptionfrom client device 204 via directed communication beam 214(N). Further,the data communication transmission is coordinated so as not tointerfere with the data communication reception.

[0219] At block 1804, data communication transmissions are routedthrough a transmit beam-forming network to antenna elements of theantenna assembly such that a data communication transmission iscommunicated to a client device via a directed communication beam. Atblock 1806, the directed communication beams are monitored for datacommunication receptions from the client devices. At block 1808, datacommunication receptions are received through a receive beam-formingnetwork from the antenna elements of the antenna assembly such that adata communication reception is received from a client device via adirected communication beam. For example, a data communication receptioncan be received from a client device with scanning receiver 822 (shownin FIG. 8B).

[0220] At block 1810, a determination is made as to which of multiplechannels provides acceptable data communication transmission and/orreception with a client device. At block 1812, information is maintainedcorresponding to one or more of the client devices. The information caninclude a transmit power level, a data transmit rate, an antennadirection, quality of service data, and timing data. Further,coordinating a directed wireless communication with a client device (asdescribed in block 1802) can be based on the information that ismaintained (at block 1812).

[0221]FIG. 19 illustrates a method 1900 for directed wirelesscommunication. The order in which the method is described is notintended to be construed as a limitation, and any number of thedescribed method blocks can be combined in any order to implement themethod. Furthermore, the method can be implemented in any suitablehardware, software, firmware, or combination thereof.

[0222] At block 1902, a client device is associated with a directedcommunication beam. For example, a portable client device 202 (shown inFIG. 2) is associated with communication beam 214(1) (shown in FIGS. 2and 3). At block 1904, signal strength indications are received for datapackets received from the client device via the directed communicationbeam. At block 1906, a signal strength average for the client device iscalculated from the received signal strength indications.

[0223] At block 1908, adjacent signal strength indications are sampledfor an adjacent directed communication beam. At block 1910, a secondsignal strength average is calculated for the adjacent directedcommunication beam. For example, signal strength indications are sampledfor an adjacent directed communication beam 214(2) (shown in FIGS. 2 and3), and a signal strength average is calculated for the adjacentdirected communication beam 214(2).

[0224] At block 1912, the signal strength average is compared to thesecond signal strength average and a determination is made as to whichprovides a more effective, or better, communication link. If the secondsignal strength average does not indicate that the adjacent directedcommunication beam would provide a better communication link than thedirected communication beam (i.e., no from block 912), then the clientdevice association with the initial directed communication beam ismaintained at block 914.

[0225] If the second signal strength average indicates that the adjacentdirected communication beam would provide a better communication linkthan the directed communication beam (i.e., no from block 912), then theclient device is disassociated with the directed communication beam atblock 916. At block 918, the client device is reassociated with theadjacent directed communication beam. The method 1900 can then continueand be reiterated from block 1902. Additionally, the method 1900 can beimplemented for any number of client devices in wireless communicationwith a directed wireless communication system.

[0226] Although wireless communication system(s) have been described inlanguage specific to structural features and/or methods, it is to beunderstood that the subject of the appended claims is not necessarilylimited to the specific features or methods described. Rather, thespecific features and methods are disclosed as exemplary implementationsof wireless communication system(s).

1. A wireless communication system, comprising: a multi-beam directedsignal system configured for directed wireless communication with aclient device; and an antenna assembly configured to receive thedirected wireless communication and emanate a directed communicationbeam for data communication with the client device.
 2. A wirelesscommunication system as recited in claim 1, wherein the multi-beamdirected signal system is further configured to generate a seconddirected wireless communication to a second client device, and whereinthe antenna assembly is further configured to receive the secondwireless communication and emanate a second directed communication beamfor additional data communication with the second client device.
 3. Awireless communication system as recited in claim 1, wherein: themulti-beam directed signal system is further configured to generate asecond directed wireless communication to a second client device; theantenna assembly is further configured to receive the second wirelesscommunication and emanate a second directed communication beam foradditional data communication with the second client device; and theantenna assembly is further configured to emanate the directedcommunication beam such that only the client device will receive thedata communication, and further emanate the second directedcommunication beam such that only the second client device will receivethe additional data communication.
 4. A wireless communication system asrecited in claim 1, wherein: the multi-beam directed signal system ismulti-channel and further configured for directed wireless communicationwith a second client device; the antenna assembly is further configuredto emanate the directed communication beam for data communication withthe client device via a first channel; and the antenna assembly isfurther configured to emanate a second directed communication beam foradditional data communication with the second client device via a secondchannel.
 5. A wireless communication system as recited in claim 1,wherein: the multi-beam directed signal system is multi-channel andfurther configured for directed wireless communication with a secondclient device; the antenna assembly includes a phased array of antennaelements each configured to emanate a communication beam; the antennaassembly is further configured to emanate the directed communicationbeam from a first antenna element for the data communication with theclient device via a first channel; and the antenna assembly is furtherconfigured to emanate a second directed communication beam from a secondantenna element for additional data communication with the second clientdevice via a second channel.
 6. A wireless communication system asrecited in claim 1, wherein: the multi-beam directed signal system ismulti-channel and further configured for simultaneous directed wirelesscommunication with a second client device; the antenna assembly isfurther configured to emanate the directed communication beam for datacommunication transmission to the client device via a first channel; andthe antenna assembly is further configured to emanate a second directedcommunication beam for data communication reception from the secondclient device via a second channel.
 7. A wireless communication systemas recited in claim 1, wherein the multi-beam directed signal system isfurther configured for simultaneous directed wireless transmission tothe client device and directed wireless reception from a second clientdevice.
 8. A wireless communication system as recited in claim 1,wherein the antenna assembly is further configured to emanate thedirected communication beam as an electromagnetic signal that includestransmission peaks and transmissions nulls within a coverage area of thecommunication beam.
 9. A wireless communication system as recited inclaim 1, wherein: the antenna assembly is further configured to emanatethe directed communication beam as an electromagnetic signal thatincludes a signal transmission peak within a first coverage area and asignal transmission null within a second coverage area; and the antennaassembly is further configured to emanate a second directedcommunication beam as a second electromagnetic signal that includes asecond signal transmission peak within the second coverage area and asecond signal transmission null within the first coverage area.
 10. Awireless communication system as recited in claim 1, wherein the antennaassembly is further configured to emanate a second directedcommunication beam for the data communication with the client devicewhen the directed communication beam is determined ineffective for datacommunication.
 11. A wireless communication system as recited in claim1, wherein: the multi-beam directed signal system is further configuredto determine when the directed communication beam is ineffective fordata communication with the client device, and is further configured togenerate the directed wireless communication for the data communicationvia a second directed communication beam; and the antenna assembly isfurther configured to emanate the second directed communication beam forthe data communication with the client device.
 12. A wirelesscommunication system as recited in claim 1, wherein the antenna assemblyis further configured to emanate multiple directed communication beams,and wherein the multi-beam directed signal system includes signalcoordination logic that monitors the multiple directed communicationbeams each as an individual access point.
 13. A wireless communicationsystem as recited in claim 1, wherein the multi-beam directed signalsystem includes signal coordination logic that controls a directedwireless transmission to the client device and directed wirelessreception from a second client device such that the directed wirelesstransmission does not interfere with the directed wireless reception.14. A Wi-Fi switch comprising the wireless communication system asrecited in claim
 1. 15. A Wi-Fi switch for 802.11 specification datapacket communication comprising the wireless communication system asrecited in claim
 1. 16. A method, comprising: generating a directedwireless communication for data communication with a client device;receiving the directed wireless communication at an antenna assembly;and emanating a directed communication beam for the data communicationwith the client device.
 17. A method as recited in claim 16, furthercomprising: generating a second directed wireless communication foradditional data communication with a second client device; receiving thesecond directed wireless communication at the antenna assembly; andemanating a second directed communication beam for the additional datacommunication with the second client device.
 18. A method as recited inclaim 16, further comprising: generating a second directed wirelesscommunication for additional data communication with a second clientdevice; receiving the second directed wireless communication at theantenna assembly; emanating a second directed communication beam for theadditional data communication with the second client device; and whereinthe directed communication beam is emanated such that only the clientdevice will receive the data communication, and the second directedcommunication beam is emanated such that only the second client devicewill receive the additional data communication.
 19. A method as recitedin claim 16, generating a second directed wireless communication foradditional data communication with a second client device; receiving thesecond directed wireless communication at the antenna assembly;emanating a second directed communication beam for the additional datacommunication with the second client device; and wherein the directedcommunication beam is emanated from a first antenna element of theantenna assembly, and the second directed communication beam is emanatedfrom a second antenna element of the antenna assembly.
 20. A method asrecited in claim 16, further comprising emanating a second directedcommunication beam for data communication reception from a second clientdevice, and wherein emanating the directed communication beam includesemanating the directed communication beam for data communicationtransmission to the client device.
 21. A method as recited in claim 16,further comprising: transmitting the data communication to the clientdevice via the directed communication beam; receiving a second datacommunication from a second client device via a second directedcommunication beam; and wherein transmitting the data communication andreceiving the second directed data communication is simultaneous.
 22. Amethod as recited in claim 16, wherein emanating the directedcommunication beam includes emanating an electromagnetic signal thatincludes transmission peaks and transmissions nulls within a coveragearea of the directed communication beam.
 23. A method as recited inclaim 16, further comprising; determining that the directedcommunication beam is ineffective for the data communication with theclient device; and emanating a second directed communication beam forthe data communication with the client device.
 24. A method as recitedin claim 16, further comprising: transmitting the data communication tothe client device via the directed communication beam; receiving asecond data communication from a second client device via a seconddirected communication beam; and controlling transmitting the datacommunication such that the data communication does not interfere withreceiving the second data communication.
 25. A multi-beam directedsignal system, comprising: signal coordination logic configured tocoordinate directed wireless communication with client devices; atransmit beam-forming network configured to route data communicationtransmissions to one or more of the client devices via directedcommunication beams that are emanated from an antenna assembly; and areceive beam-forming network configured to receive data communicationreceptions from one or more of the client devices via the directedcommunication beams.
 26. A multi-beam directed signal system as recitedin claim 25, further comprising: receiver/transmitters each configuredto transmit a data communication transmission to one or more of theclient devices, and each further configured to receive a datacommunication reception from one or more of the client devices; whereinthe transmit beam-forming network includes transmit ports that eachcouple an individual antenna element of the antenna assembly to areceiver/transmitter; and wherein the receive beam-forming networkincludes receive ports that each couple an individual antenna element ofthe antenna assembly to a receiver/transmitter.
 27. A multi-beamdirected signal system as recited in claim 25, further comprising:multiple channels each corresponding to a receiver/transmitterconfigured to transmit a data communication transmission to a clientdevice and receive a data communication reception from the clientdevice; and a scanning receiver configured to receive a datacommunication reception from a client device and determine which of themultiple channels provides acceptable data communication transmissionand reception with the client device.
 28. A multi-beam directed signalsystem as recited in claim 25, further comprising a scanning receiverconfigured to scan the directed communication beams and monitor for thedata communication receptions from one or more of the client devices.29. A multi-beam directed signal system as recited in claim 25, furthercomprising: a memory component configured to maintain informationcorresponding to one or more of the client devices, the informationincluding at least one of a transmit power level, a data transmit rate,an antenna direction, quality of service data, and timing data; andwherein the signal coordination logic is further configured tocoordinate the directed wireless communication with one or more of theclient devices based on the information maintained with the memorycomponent.
 30. A multi-beam directed signal system as recited in claim25, further comprising medium access controllers each corresponding to adirected communication beam and configured to communicate data packetsfor the directed wireless communication between the multi-beam directedsignal system and a communication network.
 31. A multi-beam directedsignal system as recited in claim 25, wherein the transmit beam-formingnetwork is further configured to transmit energy on a side lobe of adirected communication beam corresponding to a first client device suchthat a second client device will detect the side lobe energy andrecognize that a data communication transmission is being emanated tothe first client device via the directed communication beam.
 32. Amulti-beam directed signal system as recited in claim 25, wherein thesignal coordination logic is further configured to coordinate that onlya first client device will receive a first directed wirelesscommunication via a first communication beam, and that only a secondclient device will receive a second directed wireless communication viaa second communication beam.
 33. A multi-beam directed signal system asrecited in claim 25, wherein the signal coordination logic is furtherconfigured to coordinate a simultaneous data communication transmissionto a first client device via a first directed communication beam and adata communication reception from a second client device via a seconddirected communication beam.
 34. A multi-beam directed signal system asrecited in claim 25, wherein: the signal coordination logic is furtherconfigured to determine when a directed communication beam isineffective for a data communication transmission to a client device;and the transmit beam-forming network is further configured to route thedata communication transmission to the client device via a seconddirected communication beam.
 35. A multi-beam directed signal system asrecited in claim 25, wherein the signal coordination logic is furtherconfigured to monitor the directed communication beams each as anindividual access point.
 36. A multi-beam directed signal system asrecited in claim 25, wherein the signal coordination logic is furtherconfigured to coordinate a data communication transmission to a firstclient device and a data communication reception from a second clientdevice such that the data communication transmission does not interferewith the data communication reception.
 37. A Wi-Fi switch comprising themulti-beam directed signal system as recited in claim
 25. 38. A Wi-Fiswitch for 802.11 specification data packet communication comprising themulti-beam directed signal system as recited in claim
 25. 39. A method,comprising: coordinating directed wireless communication with clientdevices via directed communication beams emanated from an antennaassembly; routing data communication transmissions through a transmitbeam-forming network to antenna elements of the antenna assembly suchthat a data communication transmission is communicated to a clientdevice via a directed communication beam; and receiving datacommunication receptions through a receive beam-forming network from theantenna elements of the antenna assembly such that a data communicationreception is received from a client device via a directed communicationbeam.
 40. A method as recited in claim 39, further comprising: receivinga data communication reception from a client device with a scanningreceiver; and determining which of multiple channels provides acceptabledata communication transmission and reception with the client device.41. A method as recited in claim 39, further comprising monitoring thedirected communication beams for the data communication receptions fromone or more of the client devices.
 42. A method as recited in claim 39,further comprising: maintaining information corresponding to one or moreof the client devices, the information including at least one of atransmit power level, a data transmit rate, an antenna direction,quality of service data, and timing data; and wherein coordinating thedirected wireless communication includes coordinating a directedwireless communication with a client device based on the informationthat is maintained.
 43. A method as recited in claim 39, furthercomprising generating a directed communication beam as anelectromagnetic signal that includes transmission peaks and transmissionnulls within a coverage area of the directed communication beam.
 44. Amethod as recited in claim 39, further comprising transmitting energy ona side lobe of a directed communication beam corresponding to a firstclient device such that a second client device will detect the side lobeenergy and recognize that a data communication transmission is beingemanated to the first client device via the directed communication beam.45. A method as recited in claim 39, further comprising: determiningwhen a directed communication beam is ineffective for a datacommunication transmission to a client device; and routing the datacommunication transmission to the client device via a second directedcommunication beam.
 46. A method as recited in claim 39, whereincoordinating directed wireless communication includes coordinating thatonly a first client device will receive a first directed wirelesscommunication via a first communication beam, and that only a secondclient device will receive a second directed wireless communication viaa second communication beam.
 47. A method as recited in claim 39,wherein coordinating directed wireless communication includescoordinating a simultaneous data communication transmission to a firstclient device via a first directed communication beam and a datacommunication reception from a second client device via a seconddirected communication beam.
 48. A method as recited in claim 39,wherein coordinating directed wireless communication includescoordinating a data communication transmission to a first client deviceand a data communication reception from a second client device such thatthe data communication transmission does not interfere with the datacommunication reception.
 49. One or more computer-readable mediacomprising computer executable instructions that, when executed, directa wireless communication system to: coordinate directed wirelesscommunication with client devices via directed communication beamsemanated from an antenna assembly; route data communicationtransmissions through a transmit beam-forming network to antennaelements of the antenna assembly such that a data communicationtransmission is communicated to a client device via a directedcommunication beam; and receive data communication receptions through areceive beam-forming network from the antenna elements of the antennaassembly such that a data communication reception is received from aclient device via a directed communication beam.
 50. One or morecomputer-readable media as recited in claim 49, further comprisingcomputer executable instructions that, when executed, direct thewireless communication system to: receive a data communication receptionfrom a client device with a scanning receiver; and determine which ofmultiple channels provides acceptable data communication transmissionand reception with the client device.
 51. One or more computer-readablemedia as recited in claim 49, further comprising computer executableinstructions that, when executed, direct the wireless communicationsystem to monitor the directed communication beams for the datacommunication receptions from one or more of the client devices.
 52. Oneor more computer-readable media as recited in claim 49, furthercomprising computer executable instructions that, when executed, directthe wireless communication system to: maintain information correspondingto one or more of the client devices, the information including at leastone of a transmit power level, a data transmit rate, an antennadirection, quality of service data, and timing data; and coordinate adirected wireless communication with a client device based on theinformation that is maintained.
 53. One or more computer-readable mediaas recited in claim 49, further comprising computer executableinstructions that, when executed, direct the wireless communicationsystem to generate a directed communication beam as an electromagneticsignal that includes transmission peaks and transmission nulls within acoverage area of the directed communication beam.
 54. One or morecomputer-readable media as recited in claim 49, further comprisingcomputer executable instructions that, when executed, direct thewireless communication system to: generate a directed communication beamas an electromagnetic signal that includes a signal transmission peakwithin a first coverage area and a signal transmission null within asecond coverage area; and generate a second directed communication beamas a second electromagnetic signal that includes a second signaltransmission peak within the second coverage area and a second signaltransmission null within the first coverage area.
 55. One or morecomputer-readable media as recited in claim 49, further comprisingcomputer executable instructions that, when executed, direct thewireless communication system to transmit energy on a side lobe of adirected communication beam corresponding to a first client device suchthat a second client device will detect the side lobe energy andrecognize that a data communication transmission is being emanated tothe first client device via the directed communication beam.
 56. One ormore computer-readable media as recited in claim 49, further comprisingcomputer executable instructions that, when executed, direct thewireless communication system to: determine when a directedcommunication beam is ineffective for a data communication transmissionto a client device; and route the data communication transmission to theclient device via a second directed communication beam.
 57. One or morecomputer-readable media as recited in claim 49, further comprisingcomputer executable instructions that, when executed, direct thewireless communication system to coordinate that only a first clientdevice receives a first directed wireless communication via a firstcommunication beam, and that only a second client device receives asecond directed wireless communication via a second communication beam.58. One or more computer-readable media as recited in claim 49, furthercomprising computer executable instructions that, when executed, directthe wireless communication system to coordinate a simultaneous datacommunication transmission to a first client device via a first directedcommunication beam and a data communication reception from a secondclient device via a second directed communication beam.
 59. One or morecomputer-readable media as recited in claim 49, further comprisingcomputer executable instructions that, when executed, direct thewireless communication system to coordinate a data communicationtransmission to a first client device and a data communication receptionfrom a second client device such that the data communicationtransmission does not interfere with the data communication reception.60. A method, comprising: associating a client device with a directedcommunication beam; receiving signal strength indications for datapackets received from the client device; calculating a signal strengthaverage for the client device from the received signal strengthindications; and maintaining the client device association with thedirected communication beam in an event that the signal strength averageindicates that the directed communication beam provides an effectivecommunication link.
 61. A method as recited in claim 60, furthercomprising: sampling adjacent signal strength indications of an adjacentdirected communication beam; calculating a second signal strengthaverage for the adjacent directed communication beam; comparing thesignal strength average and the second signal strength average;maintaining the client device association with the directedcommunication beam in an event that the signal strength averageindicates that the directed communication beam provides a bettercommunication link than the adjacent directed communication beam.
 62. Amethod as recited in claim 60, further comprising: sampling adjacentsignal strength indications of an adjacent directed communication beam;calculating a second signal strength average for the adjacent directedcommunication beam; comparing the signal strength average and the secondsignal strength average; disassociating the client device from thedirected communication beam in an event that the second signal strengthaverage indicates that the adjacent directed communication beam providesa better communication link than the directed communication beam; andreassociating the client device with the adjacent directed communicationbeam.
 63. A method as recited in claim 60, further comprising: samplingadjacent signal strength indications of an adjacent directedcommunication beam; calculating a second signal strength average for theadjacent directed communication beam; comparing the signal strengthaverage and the second signal strength average; disassociating theclient device from the directed communication beam in an event that thesignal strength average indicates that the directed communication beamis an ineffective communication link; and reassociating the clientdevice with the adjacent directed communication beam in an event thatthe second signal strength average indicates that the adjacent directedcommunication beam provides an effective communication link.